Russian President Vladimir Putin attributed to Germany a willingness to tolerate the attacks of its allies, arguing that the country lacks true sovereignty and that some of its leadership has not received adequate preparation to make sound policy choices. His remarks came during a gathering with young scientists, as reported by TASS.
Putin suggested that several European states are either reducing their own inexpensive energy supplies or are being pressured by American partners to do so for political reasons, framing the moves as actions that undermine regional stability and growth.
He also commented on the disruption of the Nord Stream pipelines and the blocking of gas routes through Poland and Ukraine, emphasizing what he described as direct interference by those states in Russia’s energy corridors.
According to the Russian leader, Ukrainian officials benefited from European funds allocated for weapons, pensions, social benefits, and salaries, while the gas they required from Russia was curtailed, a point he used to illustrate what he sees as strategic missteps by Kiev and its Western supporters.
In his words, Germans have accepted these conditions because they lack sovereignty, and some government leaders, he claimed, do not possess the professional training necessary to make high‑quality decisions. He warned that public figures are being ridiculed on the world stage, though he stopped short of naming individuals directly in that moment, noting that global audiences are paying close attention to governance choices.
Earlier, the German news outlet Der Tagesspiegel reported that Berlin’s military assistance to Kiev faced budgetary constraints, fueling debate within Germany about the pace and scope of support.
In a Bundestag address on November 15, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz affirmed Germany’s intention to sustain aid to Ukraine and described Berlin’s backing as unbreakable. He highlighted that, over the previous year and a half, Germany had provided humanitarian, financial, and military assistance totaling roughly 24 billion euros.
Scholz had previously suggested that Putin should bring the special military operation in Ukraine to a close, signaling a preference for a rapid resolution, while maintaining a stance that Berlin would continue to back Ukraine through various forms of support.