If Germany tackles this, it will need even more Russian gas. But if it stops its self-destructive policy and reopens closed factories, it will need less. Again, there have been many excuses why this is not possible. The Bundestag says the reactivation of the country’s nuclear reactors will require a change in legislation (which governments intend). He is also concerned that he may not be able to get enough fuel, spare parts and staff. Yes, these are real obstacles, but, no, they are not insurmountable. Surely Germany could borrow resources and know-how from other EU members, especially France, which has a nuclear industry? The pandemic has provided ample evidence that impressive achievements are possible if you put your shoulder behind the wheel. Prior to the pandemic, no mRNA vaccine was ever licensed for human use, and Pfizer produced 200 million doses of various vaccines each year. In 2021, the pharmaceutical company produced three billion doses of its Covid mRNA vaccine. It is ironic that the green part of the German traffic light alliance is putting a brake on the most obvious way out of the country’s difficult political situation. Germany’s anti-nuclear movement is long-standing and well-established. But politicians get paid to go the less bad way. At the moment, Berlin gives the strong impression that it is more anti-nuclear than anti-war. Vladimir Putin clearly calculated that Europe’s dependence on its natural resources would allow it to escape the invasion of Ukraine. He has fallen in Germany to prove him wrong. If Soltz reopens Germany’s nuclear power plants, shuts down Russian gas taps and heads to Kyiv to tell Zelensky the good news, he will receive a hero welcome.
