Why Germany Is Still Divided When It Comes to Russia NYT | Top Stories By: Christopher F. Schuetze 7 November 2025 at 18:09 Many East Germans are more sympathetic toward Moscow than their western compatriots, reflecting decades of Soviet ties and disillusionment since reunification. © Laetitia Vancon for The New York TimesPart of the wall that used to divide West and East Germany before reunification in 1990. Cultural divides, especially over views about Russia, remain.