Why Germany and France are hesitant to help Ukraine

"Above all, neither the French or the Germans really trust the Ukrainians."

Franco-German relations are built on a 'mistrust of a country under attack,' making them 'negative allies' to Ukraine, explains Roger Boyes, diplomatic editor for The Times.
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[Katoshi_Takagumi]

It's beyond incredible if any European power still remains hesitant about which side they should be on. Also, when there is a war blazing on in Europe, it is the sort of thing that needs to be put out quickly. That's going to require everyone to work towards one goal, without hesitation, in step and on time.

[florete]

As a German: I would like to see my country help Ukraine to beat Russia - and help them extensively and comprehensively. Our chancellor is not making the right call here (once again) - and I am sick and tired of his hesitant demeanour.

[colinmale]

This is why I’m proud to be British. I’m surprised the French haven’t offered Exocet missiles, they hand those out to anyone.

[evaavfc]

I hope the German government releases the transfer of Leopard tanks very soon. Europe needs to be united more than ever. Ukraine needs the tanks ASAP. It is also an opportunity for German industry to get the wheels of production and development turning.

[tomkleist]

This is yet another shameful chapter in German history...

[badluck]

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
- Edmund Burke

[pcarter]

Just imagine the state Europe would be in if France and Germany Had got their way on having a EU army instead of individual country armies

[rxonmymind]

This gentleman brings up some good points and one of them is trust. It's ironic that France wanted to negotiate with Putin but not fully trust Ukrainian president Zelinsky. You can't have this duality when going to negotiate and claim you have the best interest of Ukraine when talking to Putin.
Trust. Something to chew on and think about it for a while.
Germany really only has three choices.
Lead
Follow
Get out of the way.
So choose one of them Germany.
Edit: Grammar

[notanindividual]

To France and Germany, America is the rival, not Russia. To the eastern European countries America, and to a lesser extent the UK, are their guarantors against Russian aggression. This makes France and Germany reluctant to help eastern European countries - they see them as siding with the USA. Are France and Germany allies to any other country? They both seem totally self interested.

[Anonymos]

When I look at the facts I see that Germany is supporting Ukraine far more than Britain is doing.

Great Britain supplies more weapons than Germany but Germany supports Ukraine massively financially.

[mongrelrat]

Oh boy... I don't even know what to say.
What is Germany waiting for exactly to give Leopard II MBTs to Ukraine?! Everybody understands how promptness is important now.
Scholz & Pistorius behavior is disgusting.

[robbie]

A very misleading headline,
Since both France and Germany are giving a lot of support to Ukraine 🇺🇦🇺🇦,
But now it is time to step up even more

[richardextall]

Just goes to show, you can never count on France or Germany when it comes to actually standing up to an aggressor.

[oldgreybeard]

Can Germany (worried about the support for Putin in Germany) not have a quiet word with Poland. The Poles and others send their Leopards, Berlin gets very upset but accepts it and then after a month or so decides it might as well send tanks themselves

[DacianRider]

from Putler's gaslighting to Germany's Scholtzing...

[jamessaylor]

Hey Germany, the other countries won't forget this

[peterpalmer]

France & Germany are doing stuff to help Ukraine but they are coming up short of what is needed thinking in the future of partnerships wit Russia just like Merkel had instead of justice which means thousands in Ukraine are needlessly dying get on with doing the rite thing both country's have blood on your hands.

[ronmullard]

what the Germans should consider is that if Putin should be successful in beating Ukraine his stated goal is to reform the former USSR and that would also include East Berlin as that was formally communist ruled ....so think on ...

[solschwarz]

Someone help me out. So Germany are really very pacifist. So why have they produced more than 2000 battle tanks? So it's OK to manufacture battle tanks as long as they are not used in war, is that right? Or maybe use in war is fine, just not against Russia?

[linuxforpunks]

We might as well have left half of Germany in the USSR - the experience of other countries helping them to be free hasn't taught them to step up to help others.