CDU foreign policy politician Norbert Röttgen believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin is facing mounting difficulties. He stated to the Funke media group that the reduced nature of the military parade on May 9th serves as an “undeniable sign that Putin is increasingly under pressure”. According to Röttgen, the war against Ukraine is becoming less popular within Russia, and the country’s economy is struggling.
He highlighted that Ukraine is increasingly succeeding in escalating the conflict onto Russian territory. For instance, Ukrainian drones now reach as far as Moscow, where they could cause significant damages, making public appearances particularly risky. (Moscow traditionally uses May 9th to celebrate the Soviet defeat of Nazi Germany with a military parade on Red Square.)
Röttgen views Ukraine as gaining the upper hand in its defensive fight against the Russian army. He asserted that, under the stresses of the war, Ukraine has developed its industrial and technological capabilities in an “impressive manner”. These advancements, he noted, allow Kyiv to compensate for some personnel deficits and deal massive losses to Russian forces. Furthermore, Ukraine now possesses weaponry with greater ranges, which has considerably curtailed Russian oil output.
While acknowledging that Ukraine still requires continued assistance from Germany, the foreign politician stressed that Kyiv is playing an increasingly vital role in European protection given its own substantial military capabilities. He concluded by stating, “We are now learning from Ukraine and cooperating with it industrially. It is no longer a one-sided relationship where we only give and Ukraine only takes”.
