Are Germans against Russia?

• 01.18.2015, 01:14
•  Europe,  World

The society in Germany is almost equally divided in their opinions on what concerns the question of the legitimacy of Crimea’s joining to Russia. However the number of   those Germans, who oppose the recognition of the peninsula as a part of Russia, is greater. According to a poll conducted by the Sociological Institute "Infratest Dimap" commissioned by the German television channel ARD, 48% of the population in Germany believe that Crimea should not be considered a Russian land. 39% of the respondents were in favor of the recognition of Crimea as a part of Russian Federation, reports Deutsche Welle.

When estimating Russian President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy, 54% of the respondents said they considered it as a threat for Germany, whereas 43% did not see anything in the actions of Moscow, which could present immediate danger to their country.  

In answer to the question about the sanctions imposed by the West against Russia, 19% of the respondents were in favor of their further expansion and 43% thought that the current sanctions in their present form were appropriate and sufficient. 27% called for the abolition of the restrictive measures.

The attitude of the German authorities towards Russia in the light of the Ukrainian crisis is well demonstrated by the actions and speeches of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel. She does not refuse dialogue with Putin, as it does, for example, the leader of the United States Barack Obama, but she not once has emphasized that the sanctions will be strengthened in the case of escalation of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Earlier the former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev announced that, in his opinion, the West had already accepted the fact of joining Crimea to Russian. It should be mentioned that a few days ago China also announced its special position about Crimea. As the Acting Director of the Europe and Central Asia said, the Chinese Foreign Ministry Gui Tsunyuy Beijing opposed the declaration of independence of any nation via referendum but the situation with Crimea had its own characteristics.

  "We must carefully and thoughtfully deal with the solution of national issues. We are against any case of an independence that was gained through referendum. What refers to Crimea; there are some peculiarities. We know the history of Crimea well and to which country that land belonged", - the diplomat noted.

Last week, a poll on the Crimea’s issue was conducted also among the citizens of Russia. 84% of the respondents said they supported the joining of the Crimea to Russia, whereas 11% opposed such an action. 6% of the respondents had difficulties in answering to this