Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck rightly says that Germany must “break its cord” from Moscow.

The dependency on Russia's energy and thus also on its authoritarian government was a big mistake that put Germany in a difficult position.

"The model failed," said the Green politician.

The finding is correct and also so bitter because the regime uses the fuel revenue to finance the war in Ukraine.

Although gas deliveries to Europe have fallen, the sharp rise in prices is making up for the declines.

The Kremlin can allow itself to use the throttling as a political weapon, to burn the gas that has not flowed and still make good money.

Christian Geinitz

Business correspondent in Berlin

  • Follow I follow

Russia's aggressiveness, its hegemonic ambitions and its striving to counter the Western model with its own order cannot be overlooked.

To do this, Moscow uses an old power-political currency that other states had long believed behind and which they now face in disbelief if not helpless: the military.

Finland and Sweden flee into the arms of NATO, the Federal Republic rearms, suddenly arms deliveries to war zones are possible.

The governing parties SPD and Greens must vacate long-cherished basic positions in peace and energy policy.

If the Russian approach fails, it will fail fundamentally, militarily on the battlefield and economically by losing the most important customer in the West for the only significant export good, energy.

Politically and geostrategically, Moscow is likely to become more isolated, NATO and the EU are moving closer together and are also becoming increasingly attractive for third countries.

Instead of dividing and keeping the West at bay, it is uniting and drawing closer.

Vladimir Putin's desire to iron out the humiliation after the fall of the Soviet Union would be thwarted by further humiliation.

In any case, one thing is clear: If the Kremlin loses, no one will follow its failed development pattern.

Reach in every corner of the world

In addition to Russia, another dubious nuclear power that doesn't give a damn about the rule of law and democracy, the People's Republic of China, sits on the UN Security Council.

She acts much more skilfully to assert her interests - and she is much stronger.

In terms of troops, the Chinese armed forces are twice as large as the Russian ones.

The muscle flexing off Taiwan and in the South and East China Seas show that they can be used as a means of power.

However, the army is not the first choice to exert influence, instead the Chinese use more subtle and successful ways.

In contrast to Russia's hit-and-run policy, Beijing is pursuing sophisticated long-term strategies that are primarily based on economic factors.