At the beginning of the EU summit before Christmas, Federal Chancellor Scholz made a remarkable statement with regard to the Russian troop deployment on the border with Ukraine: the inviolability of the borders is "one of the very important foundations of peace in Europe";
they will therefore “do everything together” “so that invulnerability really remains.”
That sounded almost like Schröder's "unrestricted solidarity" after September 11, 2001.
To this day, the Kremlin does not have to fear that the EU or even Germany will “do everything” to protect Ukraine against a Russian attack.
Unlike Putin, the West rules out the use of military force.
Germany also insists, as Foreign Minister Baerbock confirmed in Kiev, that it will not supply the Ukrainians with weapons for self-defense.
The German promise to stand by Ukraine is limited to diplomatic means.
In a confrontation with an autocrat who has nuclear weapons and has no scruples about using his armed forces, a military counter-threat would also be extremely risky.
She wouldn't be believable.
The threat of sanctions also has a credibility problem
Instead, the West is trying to reason with the Kremlin by threatening sanctions.
But the “high price” formula did not stop Putin from sending more troops to the border and making impossible demands.
Deterrence with the weapons of business also has a credibility problem.
The federal government is still holding on to Nord Stream 2.
Merz warns against decoupling Russia from the Swift payment system – that would be a “nuclear bomb” for the capital markets.
Against this background, Baerbock is actually only left with her charm to impress Lavrov.
"We have staying power," she said in Kiev.
Congratulations, Germany, on so much leeway in foreign policy!
She no longer has Ukraine in Putin's stranglehold.