Support among German citizens for arms supplies to Ukraine has declined. This shows a public opinion poll cited by the DPA.
46% of respondents called for the supply of offensive weapons and heavy equipment from Germany to Ukraine. This opinion was 9% higher than the respondents in a similar drilling conducted at the beginning of last month. Conversely, the share of German citizens who generally oppose such supplies has risen from 33 to 44%.
Germany has sent arms and equipment worth more than 190m euros to Ukraine
According to the survey, the biggest opponents of arms supplies are people in the former communist East Germany (57%), supporters of the Left Party (56%) and, above all, supporters of the far-right Alternative for Germany Party (88%). . Supporters of the Liberal Free Democratic Party, the smallest partner in the ruling tripartite coalition, are deeply divided (49 per cent in favor and one per cent less). Arms supplies have the highest support among the Greens (66%) and the Christian Democratic / Christian Social Union bloc (62%).
The majority of German citizens surveyed – 70% – believe that the war in Ukraine can be stopped only through negotiations and a diplomatic decision. 24 percent believe in military victory.
Last week, the federal government approved for the first time the direct export of heavy weapons from Germany: 50 Flappanzer Cheetah self-propelled anti-aircraft systems. There are also talks about the delivery of self-propelled artillery units “Panzerhaubice 2000” from the warehouses of the Bundeswehr – these are heavy guns that can fire at a distance of 40 kilometers.
57% of German citizens surveyed fear that such a decision could lead to an escalation of the war in Ukraine. According to them, this increases the danger that it will spread to other countries in Europe and even grow into World War III. 34% of respondents do not share this opinion.
In the meantime, the same information has emerged about Italy. Half of Italy’s population opposes the supply of heavy weapons, and just under 40 percent support them. This was announced by Tagesschau, referring to the head of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Rome Tobias Merchel.
According to him, the same applies to other important issues related to the future of Ukraine.
“A small number of Italians support Ukraine’s accession to the EU as soon as possible,” Merchel said.
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