Germany once saw itself as the advocate of Eastern Europe in the EU and NATO, but largely gambled away this role with its Russia policy in recent years.
The Chancellor's visit to Lithuania showed just how great the distrust of Berlin's intentions still is.
It's not just a question of tactics when leaders in the Baltics oppose talks with Putin.
There is always the historically nourished experience that the stronger powers in Europe tend to do business with Moscow over the heads of Eastern Europe.
The chancellor's SPD has always been particularly prone to this, but it's not just a German tradition.
Macron's demand that Moscow should not be humiliated may seem pragmatic in the Deep West,
In Vilnius, Scholz tried to defend his position with arguments that were not really convincing in the domestic German debate.
The fact that no one is supplying arms to Ukraine on a similar scale to Germany is a question of perspective.
Compared to Hungary it's true, compared to the United States it's not.
Washington is also likely to be involved if the next question really is whether Leopard tanks will be shipped from Spain to Ukraine.
So far, the supremacy of the alliance has mostly dictated the pace and type of arms deliveries.
Modern Western main battle tanks were not among them.
It would be good if Western action remained coordinated.
The chancellor promised the Lithuanians that the German troops in their country would grow towards a brigade.
In view of the threat situation in the Baltic States, that is the right signal, especially to Putin.
It shows once again how important the 100 billion package is for the Bundeswehr.
Armament is not an end in itself, but desperately necessary to protect a free Europe.