The FDP and the Green Party have both criticized the German government’s response to recent Russian attacks as being inadequate. While FDP European politician Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann acknowledged that the government was correct in identifying “Putin and his henchmen” and taking counter-measures by closing the Russian general consulate, she stated that this single action is not enough. She argued that the Chancellor’s forceful statements claiming the perpetrators must pay would be empty words if concrete action were not taken. Strack-Zimmermann demands a consistent fight against the Russian shadow fleet, the utilization of frozen Russian assets to bolster Ukraine, and a comprehensive review of the status and assets of Russian citizens residing in Germany.
Similar criticism is coming from the Green parliamentary group in the European Parliament. Member of Parliament Hannah Neumann sharply criticized the governmental reply, stating, “The elephant gave birth to a mouse.” She described the list of repercussions for incidents dating back three weeks as “surprisingly meager.” Neumann stipulated that Germany must provide additional financial resources and weaponry to Ukraine, enhance Europe’s protection against hybrid attacks, and recognize that the Federal Government needs to proactively drive this debate due to its own security interests in Europe.
