54% of Eastern Germans Say Weapons for Ukraine Are Excessive, Poll Finds
Eastern Germany is increasingly skeptical of military support for Ukraine, with 54% of respondents calling Berlin’s weapons deliveries excessive, compared with 39% in the west, a new ARD-Deutschlandtrend poll shows. The findings come as the far-right AfD gains ground in eastern Germany.
A recent poll published by Deutsche Welle reveals that more than half of respondents in eastern Germany believe Berlin's weapons deliveries to Ukraine have gone too far, with support for Kyiv declining in recent years. According to the ARD-Deutschlandtrend survey, 54% of eastern Germans think the arms supplies are excessive, compared to 39% in western Germany.
Political scientist Johannes Varwick cautioned against interpreting the figures as a pro-Russian stance, stating that the results reflect a desire to rely more on diplomacy rather than fueling a conflict that Ukraine cannot win with additional weapons deliveries. The survey also found that 56% of Germans view Russia as a strong or very strong threat, with people in eastern Germany and supporters of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) being less likely to view Russia as a threat.
Deutsche Welle noted that ARD-Deutschlandtrend surveys over the past several years have shown a decline in public support for Ukraine, which they attribute to campaigning by the AfD and the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance. These groups argue that money sent to Ukraine could be better spent on social needs within Germany. As the AfD continues to gain significant support in eastern Germany, they could potentially form a state government for the first time in postwar German history, as seen in the early September election in Saxony-Anhalt where the party won nearly 44% of the vote.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
