100 euros a month, that would be almost five percent of my net salary. I don't think that's much for the preservation of the world order, the continued existence of Ukraine and the repression of a psychopath. I don't want relief. On the contrary, I find the haggling over whether every cent of the relief packages will actually get through astonishing. I want to give something.
I wish there was a way to fight my impotence. Humanitarian Aid to Ukraine – well and good; Night vision goggles, vehicles and bulletproof vests - very important. But then I sit stunned in front of the news and realize what the country really needs are weapons. And when it comes to the actual deliveries of heavy weapons, the German balance sheet is manageable even after five months - although three more multiple rocket launchers have now been delivered.
Anyone who can afford it should have the chance to donate privately to Ukraine in order to provide them with the weapons they need. It would be an almost democratic idea if a few thousand German citizens gave a tank for the Ukraine that actually arrived.
It would also facilitate legitimacy. It would not be Germany supplying arms to Ukraine and intervening relatively directly in the war, it would be ordinary citizens. Restaurants, flea markets, companies, sports clubs and students from all over the world could donate drones and howitzers.
And there are actually ways: Lithuania has demonstrated it in an impressive way. TV presenter Andrius Tapinas, popular in Lithuania, had an idea: he wanted to crowdfund a Turkish Bayraktar TB2 combat drone capable of “destroying Russian tanks and ships,” as Tapinas pointed out on Polish TV channel TVP World.
He enlisted the support of the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence, which agreed to handle the purchase if Tapinas could raise the money. In four days, far more than the necessary 1.5 million euros for combat drones and ammunition were received, mainly via Twitter. In the end, the Turkish manufacturer even decided to donate the drone. The six million euros donated could be used for reconnaissance drones and military equipment.
Without there having been any major donors, as Tapinas says. There were hundreds of thousands of donors, including many women, some children, some from Australia, Canada and the USA. The majority, however, came from Lithuania. In purely mathematical terms, every Lithuanian should have donated around two euros.
Transferred to Germany, that would be around 160 million euros – and the Germans have far more purchasing power than the Balts. The first imitator, however, was Poland, which also collected five million euros this week. Many are wondering which country is next?
Germany should also seriously consider such a model. Crowdfunding for heavy weapons - just 100 euros from me, 10 euros from that one, maybe 1000 euros from someone else. However, this does not appear to be planned. When asked why the Federal Ministry of Defense has not yet participated in such a campaign and whether something like this would be conceivable from the Ministry's point of view, a spokesman for WELT said that no statement could be made on this.
However, every German can also take part in campaigns abroad. Tapinas provides information about possible new campaigns on its Twitter account. Other possibilities could also arise: With "Come Back Alive", probably the largest NGO supporting the Ukrainian armed forces, it was the first non-governmental organization to receive permission from the government in Kyiv to buy weapons.
The Excel spreadsheet on the NGO website, which lists previous issues, shows: On May 13, "Come back alive" also bought a Bayraktar TB2. She was "paid" and "handed over to the armed forces". You can also donate from Germany, parts of the site are even translated into German.
The Ukrainian Serhiy Prytula Foundation had previously collected $20 million in just three days for four Bayraktar drones, which the Turks ultimately donated as well. All of this shows that it works and everyone can help. However, German politics should support this.
"Everything on shares" is the daily stock exchange shot from the WELT business editorial team. Every morning from 7 a.m. with our financial journalists. For stock market experts and beginners. Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music and Deezer. Or directly via RSS feed.
