Thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets of Berlin today, answering a call from far-left activists to protest Germany’s backing of Ukraine. The protest sought to compel the German government to stop its arms shipments to Ukraine, which is currently battling against the Russian military onslaught. This demonstration arrives just a week ahead of U.S. President Joe Biden’s scheduled state visit to Germany.
According to AFP reports, protesters were seen carrying signs with messages such as “Negotiate! No Weapons!” and “No War,” as well as slogans proclaiming, “Pacifism is not naive.” Some participants also displayed anti-American symbols.
Germany is the second-largest military aid supplier to Ukraine, after the United States, but there are plans to halve this budget next year. A central demand from the protesters is for Germany to halt its arms deliveries to Ukraine, which urgently needs resources for its defense against escalating Russian aggression.
Biden’s visit will mark the first state trip by a U.S. president to Germany since Ronald Reagan in 1985. During his stay, he is expected to meet with other allies of Ukraine to discuss military support at Ramstein Air Base in western Germany.
Sahra Wagenknecht, a prominent leftist populist leader who attended the protest, has been a vocal advocate for Germany to end its military support for Ukraine and has opposed plans to station American long-range missiles on German territory. Her critical stance on NATO and pro-Russian sentiments has garnered substantial backing for her party in recent elections, particularly in three eastern German states, including Brandenburg, where they captured 12% of the vote.
