Flags on the Bundestag building in Berlin, Germany. File photoBERLIN, Apr 13More than half of German citizens oppose an immediate embargo on Russian oil and gas, according to a poll by the sociological firm Allensbach for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Western countries have imposed numerous sanctions in response to Russia's special operation to denazify and demilitarize Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that Western companies that refuse to work with Russia did so under enormous pressure, but Russia will solve all the problems with the economy that the West creates for it.
In Germany, they announced the risk of being left without paper during the embargo on gas from RussiaRespondents in Germany had to choose one of two statements. The first read: «I believe that Germany should immediately stop buying oil and gas from Russia. It cannot be that Germany will continue to receive these raw materials from Russia and thus finance the Russian state and indirectly the war against Ukraine.» The second position chosen by the respondent was: “Of course, it is problematic that Germany continues to receive oil and gas from Russia. In any case, we cannot replace the energy supply from Russia in the short term without we having a shortage and a further rise in prices At the moment, we must continue to buy oil and gas from Russia. «The majority, 57%, chose the second position, 30% of the survey participants agreed with the first. In addition, 59% disagreed with the statement of former German President Joachim Gauck, who in March said that in order to contain Russia, the Germans could sacrifice part of their welfare, expressing this with the phrase — «we can freeze a little for the sake of freedom.» At the same time, 24% supported this position. In addition, 71% expressed concern about rising prices, 62% are concerned about the security of energy supply. Thus, 54% said that they began to pay more attention to prices when shopping than before, 47% lower the thermostats in their homes, saving on heating, 45% try to save money in general, 37% use a car less often, only 17% have not changed their consumer behavior.
Leading German economic institutions predict economic contractionThe survey revealed a sharp change in public sentiment regarding the operation of nuclear power plants in Germany. According to the current plan, the last three nuclear power plants operating in Germany will be disconnected from the grid on December 31 this year. If in a survey in February 42% of respondents stated that it was not necessary to extend the life of nuclear power plants in Germany (against 35% of those who spoke in favor of it), then in March 57% said that they considered it necessary to continue using them, otherwise only 25%. The survey was conducted from March 25 to April 6, 1075 people took part in it. The margin of error is not specified.
