Germany: Protesters took to streets in Berlin seeking govt's disassociation in Ukraine war

Amid ongoing Moscow-Kyiv war in Eastern Europe, German demonstrators came to streets in nation's capital Berlin, demanding German government stay out of conflict in Ukraine. According to Guardian report, protests emerged in Germany at a time when  nation has been offering support and solidarity to Ukraine in its conflict with Russia by supplying billions in military aid and powerful weaponry. 

Furrmore, earlier in month of June, Germany promised to give war-torn Ukraine some of most cutting-edge armaments to help it fight off Russian invasion. Germany has pledged to give Ukraine modern "anti-air missile" and "rar systems." IRIS-T air defence system would be shipped to Ukraine, according to a report from Associated Press, making it first long-range air defence equipment given to Zelenskyy ministration since war started on February 24. 

It is also important to note that German military's past deliveries of shoulder-fired, portable air defence missiles have improved Ukrainian military's ability to shoot down helicopters and or low-flying aircraft, but not sufficiently to threaten Russia's air superiority. 

In dition, Germany has committed to providing Ukraine with roughly 15 "Gepard tanks" to aid in conflict with Russian troops. According to media reports, Gepard tanks would be equipped with "equate" ammo. Germany has also started training Ukrainian troops and has given Kyiv seven self-propelled howitzers. 

Gas shortage in Germany

Meanwhile, out of concern that Russia would cut off natural gas supply, director of Germany's energy regulatory body has recently urged citizens to save energy and get rey for winter, when demand increases. Klaus Mueller, president of Federal Network Agency, vised owners and renters to get ir gas boilers and riators inspected and justed to maximise ir efficiency, Associated Press reported.  

Mueller told Funke Mediengruppe, a German publisher of newspapers and magazines, that maintenance may lower gas use by 10% to 15%.  

This request has been me after Russia cut off gas supplies to Germany, Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, and Slovakia earlier this month, as nations in European Union rushed to restock storage tanks with fuel needed to produce electricity, run industries, and heat homes in winter. 

A technical issue was to blame for decrease in natural gas flowing via Nord Stream 1, a pipeline that crosses Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany, according to state-owned energy corporation Gazprom in Russia. 

In dition to this, in June, Robert Habeck, German Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection stated that country h planned to take extra steps in response to a decline in Russian gas supply. A five-page document detailing German government's intention to lessen its reliance on Russian gas was me public, citing DPA, DW reported. German government will set aside billions of dollars for its anticipated actions to cut back on import of gas from Moscow. 

(Image: AP)