Ralph Niemeyer, head of the German Council for Constitution and Sovereignty, told RIA Novosti he considers NATO’s exercises around the region contradictory. His comments do not represent a statement by Germany’s government.
Ralph Niemeyer, head of the German Council for Constitution and Sovereignty, called NATO’s policy toward Russia’s Kaliningrad region “insane.” He gave the assessment to RIA Novosti, Lenta.ru and several Russian outlets reported.
Niemeyer said the alliance conducts exercises around Kaliningrad and then criticizes Moscow for saying it is prepared to defend the region. He also called NATO’s displeasure with that position ridiculous and asked whether the alliance expected Russia to thank it for maneuvers he characterized as rehearsals for isolating the region.
The remarks are Niemeyer’s personal assessment, not an official appeal by Germany’s government or NATO. Independent reports confirm that he made the comments to RIA Novosti; they do not by themselves establish that a plan to blockade Kaliningrad exists.