Germany has been in focus this week after lawmakers in the Bundestag on Thursday overwhelmingly backed a decision to send heavy weapons to Ukraine. Meanwhile, as Russia cut off gas supplies to EU member states Poland and Bulgaria over their refusal to pay for the fuel in roubles, Germany remains heavily reliant on Russian gas imports – more so than the EU average. We speak to Parliamentary State Secretary at the Ministry for Economy and Climate, Franziska Brantner, a German MP with the Green Party.
As Kyiv reels from a Russian missile attack which struck during a visit by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Brantner tells FRANCE 24 this is a "clear sign of disrespect for the United Nations" by the Kremlin, and that it "shows that Vladimir Putin is… inclined to go ahead with brutal force".
She also tells us that the decision to send more heavy weapons and financial support to Ukraine was made because "Ukraine defends the democracy and freedom of Europe".
Brantner underlined that Germany is not willing to consider paying for Russian gas in roubles, as demanded by the Kremlin, and has not set up a rouble bank account.
She also explained why the German government will not consider continuing nuclear power production at its three remaining nuclear plants, which are scheduled to be shut by the end of this year.
