Weakened Scholz?

Russia now faces a propaganda boomerang

(Bild: APA/AFP/POOL/Kay Nietfeld)

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is unable to wriggle out of the debate about possible Taurus deliveries to Ukraine and the Bundeswehr wiretapping scandal. However, fueled by Russian propaganda, a weakness on Scholz's part could now become a boomerang, according to one expert.

The Kremlin is playing a "risky game", analyzed Russia expert Alexander Friedman to ntv. In particular, he alludes to the publication of the wiretapped conversation between several officers of the German armed forces, which revealed some amateurish security precautions taken by the German military.

The big unanswered question, however, is why Russia is now publicizing this aspect of all things; after all, it has long been known that Germany, as a supporter of Ukraine, also wants to see the Crimean bridge destroyed - and that a deployment of the Taurus system could make this possible.

Olaf Scholz has finally been targeted by Russian propaganda - but the Kremlin is also likely to cut its own flesh in the process.

(Bild: AFP)

Diversionary tactics at the right time
"You immediately have an image of the Second World War in mind, it is claimed that the Germans now want to pick up where their ancestors started in the Second World War," the historian interprets the propaganda. This fits in perfectly with the narrative of being in a conflict with the Western world - the fact that Germany is portrayed as the "spearhead" here ties in with the already biased history of the two countries, according to the expert.

The timing of the publication was by no means a coincidence. On the very day of the funeral of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, this was a good diversionary maneuver - with the help of influencers, an attempt was made to construct an image that Germany itself was preparing an attack on Russia.

By publishing the Bundeswehr conversation, Russia is apparently trying to prevent Germany from supplying Taurus missiles.

(Bild: APA/AFP/POOL/Kay Nietfeld)

Risky game on two levels
Russia is playing a risky game on two levels, Friedmann continues. On the one hand, Scholz's Taurus blockade does not come off well in the leaked conversation between the officers, which could change his mind about supplying the system to Ukraine after all.

On the other hand, such a decision would probably make him even more unpopular with the population: If the traffic light coalition were to fall apart as a result, the CDU/CSU would probably lead the next government from the current perspective - their position is known anyway. They would probably deliver Taurus to Ukraine without batting an eyelid, the expert analyzes.

Putin considers himself the greatest expert
The Russians' tactical problem? Putin probably considers himself to be the most important expert on Germany in the country - which is why he does not seek advice from experts on the issue, says Friedman. In fact, he is also fueling a fear of war with Russia among the German population - not least because the ongoing nuclear threats play a role that should not be underestimated.

Nuclear threats? Kremlin tends to pursue short-term goals
Corresponding warnings should be taken seriously, the expert even draws a comparison with Hitler, who had already announced a number of his crimes in the 1920s and then followed up with action. However, Russia's primary goal is simply to intimidate European society - the Kremlin is not thinking very strategically, according to Friedman. Instead, the propaganda is more likely to achieve short-term success.