When in doubt for Ukraine

You don't know anything exactly - this is how you can summarize the new findings on the Nord Stream explosions. suspects? motives? State client? The new information that has been added raises more questions than it answers. It is right that journalists research the background. It is also right when they publish research that can harm the Ukrainian side or benefit the Russian side. But the research would have to reveal exactly that. But what do we know? Federal prosecutors confirmed that there was a suspicious boat that could have been used to transport the explosive devices.

According to the reports of "Zeit", ARD and SWR as well as "New York Times", this boat can be associated with Ukrainian citizens. According to the media, there are no indications of a connection to the Ukrainian government or even an order from them. The Attorney General's Office says nothing about it either. Nevertheless, the "New York Times" in particular gives the impression that the suspects are "pro-Ukrainian". There is no proof of this, and a false flag operation has not yet been ruled out. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) also rightly points out that it makes a big difference whether it was a group commissioned by Ukraine or a pro-Ukrainian one without the knowledge of the government.

Whether intentional or not, this framing is now in the world and being exploited by Russian propaganda. In Germany, too, it's caught by the usual suspects. SPD foreign politician Ralf Stegner, for example, who interprets almost everything that can be interpreted in the interests of Russia, also interprets it in the interests of Russia, writes: If what the media report is true “(that it wasn’t Putin), political turbulence will follow, which should have washed. Terrorism with state aid? Who knew what and when?” This provisional acquittal of the Russian President is likely to be in the interests of the Kremlin, because of course no media reported “that it wasn't Putin”.

It is characteristic of free societies that they speak truths that harm themselves or their allies. Ukraine has "nothing to do with the Baltic Sea incident and has no information about 'pro-Ukrainian sabotage groups,'" wrote Ukrainian presidential aide Mikhail Podoliak. Of course, this statement must and may be critically questioned. Nevertheless, in this war of aggression that Russia is waging, which violates international law, the following should always apply: in case of doubt, for Ukraine.