At no point was the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline an exclusively economic project.
Rather, as with Nord Stream 1, the Russian President saw the possibility of punishing what he saw as insubordinate Ukraine by withdrawing important income from gas transit.
German politicians took part in this plan and thereby turned against them not only their neighboring states in the east.
Now that the line is about to be completed, the Union and SPD candidates for chancellor will have to comment on the issue.
The Green candidate has a clear position, which is relatively easy for an opposition politician.
Armin Laschet and Olaf Scholz are now saying that the gas pipeline should not be used if Russia is aggressive towards Ukraine.
The aggression that has persisted since 2014 is obviously not bad enough.
Doubts are in order
Doubts about the determination of the candidates for chancellor are in order.
Laschet likes to give diplomats what a Putin is quick to interpret as a weakness.
But that's nothing compared to Scholz.
It is dealing with a party in which many, including those in leadership positions, view any serious criticism of Russia as a betrayal of the party saint Willy Brandt and its peace policy. As long as nothing changes, Putin can happily pursue his geopolitical games.