Historian: Ukraine support is about German and European security, not charity

Franziska Davies, associate professor at the Department of Eastern and Central Eastern European History at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, said support for Ukraine is a matter of German and European security, not charity.

"Part of society today understands this responsibility more clearly, and support for Ukraine remains the position of the majority," Davies said in an interview with Ukrinform. "But I am not sure whether it is sufficiently understood that this is not about generosity or simply helping, but about the security of Europe and, therefore, of Germany itself."

Davies stressed that the European security order is being defended in Ukraine. "It is in Ukraine that the European security order is currently being defended, based on the principle that no state has the right to change another state's borders by force," she said. "If this order is not protected, the whole of Europe will become less secure."

She noted a significant shift in Germany's attitude toward weapons supplies since February 2022. "Before February 2022, there was a consensus across all parties against supplying weapons. Even a party such as the Greens, which had long been very pro-Ukrainian, did not want to supply weapons. So a real shift did occur," Davies said. However, she described Germany's current support as "not sufficiently consistent."

Davies criticized the Social Democratic Party (SPD), particularly under Chancellor Olaf Scholz. "In the SPD – especially under Chancellor Scholz – it was clearly visible how strongly old patterns of thinking were still at work. This is also reflected in current calls for negotiations with Russia on disarmament," she said.

She also faulted the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led by Friedrich Merz, for prioritizing domestic issues over Ukraine. "At the level of rhetoric, support is present, but some promises made after coming to power have not been fulfilled," Davies said. She accused the CDU of inflating migration "in an irresponsible manner," adding that "support for Ukraine, despite all its strategic importance for Germany and Europe, risks moving to the background."

Davies said the CDU is using "populist and problematic narratives" in the hope of winning back voters from the Alternative for Germany party. "Polls show that this strategy does not work," she said.

Ukraine and Germany recently signed a major defense package worth EUR 4 billion, including reinforcement of air defense, development of long-range capabilities, and joint drone production.