Thread by @bctallis

“This journey to #Washington from #Zelenskiy, it is an act of desperation."

Disgraceful from #Germany’s main, public-funded news ‘analysis’ show .
-@tagesthemen & Host @HelgeFuhst highlight this view from their Washington correspondent @gudrun_engel
-why? Short🧵

https://twitter.com/tagesthemen/status/1605678566972149760

Patronising Ukrainians & underrating #Ukraine's progress on the battlefield has been a consistent feature of Germany's public debate this year. From so-called intellectuals behind the #emmaoffenerbrief to the chief of Germany's military.

https://twitter.com/bctallis/status/1519995506591682561?s=20&t=fHVy3FA6LNE-e0rW1CBPQA

While so many of #Germany's population have been inspired by #Ukraine's courageous resistance & resourcefulness in the face of Russia's horrific attack, many in Germany's establishment seem unable to share in that positive sentiment.

https://twitter.com/bctallis/status/1519995511230640130?s=20&t=fHVy3FA6LNE-e0rW1CBPQA

They, like some in high political positions, just seem (at best) to want the whole thing to go away. Their demands for 'peace' at any price have been consistent, ignoring the battlefield situation - & #Russia's massacres & abuse of occupied populations

https://twitter.com/bctallis/status/1519995518880997376?s=20&t=fHVy3FA6LNE-e0rW1CBPQA

#Ukraine's courage stands in stark contrast to their own cowardice & cynicism. And yet still they 'desperately' try to maintain their own imagined moral superiority which has come crashing down this year. From tone policing of Melnyk, to Engel's nonsense

https://twitter.com/bctallis/status/1519995526015594498?s=20&t=fHVy3FA6LNE-e0rW1CBPQA

These desperate attempts only reveal the poverty of their author's positions - but they have a poisonous & distorting effect on public debate.
- they helped reinforce the slow, grudging provision of weapons to #Ukraine & hedging of bets on #Russia

https://twitter.com/bctallis/status/1519995539651280896?s=20&t=fHVy3FA6LNE-e0rW1CBPQA

By now (unlike in May), #Germany has provided a lot of weapons & money to #Ukraine. And yet still it is not trusted as a full supporter. That's partly because the echoes of this cynicism are too easily traced in official positions & statements.

https://twitter.com/bctallis/status/1519995546240536576?s=20&t=fHVy3FA6LNE-e0rW1CBPQA

Ukrainians expressed that feeling in the recent poll by @RatingGroup for Transatlantic Dialogue Centre (A Ukrainian Think Tank) & is prevalent among allies. Its also partly b/c these debates show quite some self-obsession in #Germany -while others focus more on the bigger picture

#Germany has made big steps since May, but nothing like #Ukraine has -&🇺🇦 does it for all of us. Instead of demanding more recognition for limited progress - how about celebrating it where's its really happening (not dismissing it) & more fully joining in?

https://twitter.com/bctallis/status/1519995546240536576?s=20&t=fHVy3FA6LNE-e0rW1CBPQA

A real kicker of these German debates is that we all pay for them - literally on public broadcasters but also in the negative effect they have on #Ukraine's fight in our common war, and in #Germany's diminished reputation & effectiveness in foreign policy & delayed reforms.

Yet they endure b/c even if they are not representative of popn they echo top-level policy-from dismissal of #Ukraine's fight [you will lose in 48 hours, Feb] to the excuses about tanks now+desire to prevent a Cold War & to restore relations with #Russia.

https://twitter.com/bctallis/status/1519995552942940160?s=20&t=fHVy3FA6LNE-e0rW1CBPQA

This is not in #Germany's interest.🇩🇪leaders took a miscalculated & short-termist view of the country's interest for 20 years. Defending & also renewing liberal ordering to make it meaningful for more people is in 🇩🇪's interest. That's what #Ukarine fights for & we should too.