Russia Ex-Spy Poisoning Case: Internal support for better Moscow ties complicates German stance

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Tensions between Russia and Germany are high as a result of this mysterious poisoning case. But while Berlin has taken a tough line towards Moscow, there is also strong support within Germany for improving relations. This is complicating the German government's position. CGTN's Ira Spitzer has more from Berlin.

There haven't been many handshakes between German and Russian leaders lately. Berlin expelled four Russian diplomats in response to UK allegations of Russian involvement in the poisoning of a double agent, and had harsh words for Moscow. But is this German support really sustainable?

GUSTAV GRESSEL EUROPEAN COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS "Of course the German role has certain limitations. In domestic politics, there's still a lot of Germans that feel at quite unease with any leadership role. And particularly in confronting Russia."

Germany has long had a complicated relationship with Russia and some high-profile Germans have close ties with Moscow. Former chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is the chairman of Russia's state-controlled oil company Rosneft and it's not hard to find advocates of taking a friendlier approach towards Russia.

MARTIN HOFFMANN CEO, GERMAN-RUSSIAN FORUM "The goal has to be dialogue and a common understanding, and when that position is clearly taken, it's my experience that you get much further with Russia than when you use confrontation and escalation."

The German government though warned of the danger of Russia spreading disinformation ahead of last year's German elections.

IRA SPITZER BERLIN "The German public appears to be split almost right down the middle on the Russian question. According to a recent poll, just over half the country thought that Berlin's expulsion of Russian diplomats was an overreaction and also oppose tightening EU sanctions against Moscow."

And that's a bit worrying for those who believe that a united front is the way to compel Russia to change its behavior.

GUSTAV GRESSEL EUROPEAN COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS "If you don't contain this to Ukraine or you don't stop it by now, you will have the next war in five years and then the next war and then the next war, and where does it stop then?

Whatever the outcome of the poisoning investigation turns out to be, it's clear that this is one relationship that Germany wants to manage very carefully. Ira Spitzer, CGTN, Berlin.