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German Unity Anniversary Sees Claims of Broken NATO Assurances and Enduring East–West Rift

Russian state outlets publish interviews alleging the 1990 process disadvantaged the USSR.

Overview

  • In RIA Novosti interviews, German activist Ralf Nimayer alleges U.S. leaders gave Mikhail Gorbachev verbal assurances against NATO expansion in 1990 and then reneged.
  • Nimayer further claims NATO infrastructure appeared in the former GDR contrary to the Two‑Plus‑Four Treaty and contends a unified Germany remained reliant on the United States.
  • Institute of Europe scholar Vladislav Belov describes reunification as forced, arguing the USSR suffered losses and forfeited potential financial and political leverage.
  • RIA Novosti also quotes Nimayer saying many eastern Germans oppose supplying arms to Ukraine and feel economically shortchanged by the post‑1990 transition.
  • In a ZDF interview reported by TASS, Angela Merkel notes the absence of East German speakers at Unity Day events and acknowledges that living‑standard gaps persist.