Berlin on diplomatic offensive over crisis between Ukraine and Russia

The second meeting of the Normandy Format (10.02.) Was held in Berlin, attended by Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine. That senior Russian and Ukrainian foreign policy advisers spoke in Berlin for nine hours with each other is worth noting.

The central theme was the implementation of the Minsk Agreement, which currently focuses diplomatic efforts on the Ukraine crisis. This agreement is the only current security document, signed by both Russia and Ukraine. In Berlin, the Russian side asked the mediators to put more pressure on Ukraine. According to French sources at the meeting, Russia demanded that Ukraine negotiate with the separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk. This so far remains the red line for Ukraine.

At the moment, some experts see the Minsk Agreement as the only realistic way out of the conflict. French President Macron also put the deal in the spotlight during a visit to Moscow and Kiev.

Under the Minsk Agreement, the parties must fully withdraw heavy weapons and foreign military units; areas under the control of pro-Russian separatists Luhansk and Donetsk should be placed under local administration; Ukraine must regain full control of the border.

Intensive activity of German diplomacy around Ukraine

Germany is demonstrating an offensive leadership role in efforts to defuse the situation around Ukraine. In this context, in addition to yesterday’s meeting in the Normandy format, Chancellor Scholz invited French President Macron and Polish President Duda to Berlin on Tuesday (February 8) for the Ukraine crisis. At the highest level, the Weimar Triangle, as the initiative between Germany, France and Poland is called, had not been assembled for 11 years. “One of the last statements of this forum was in 2014, when Russia had gathered about 40,000 troops on the border with Ukraine.” Our common goal is to prevent a war in Europe, “Chancellor Scholz said in Berlin on Tuesday.

On Thursday (February 10), Chancellor Scholz invited to Berlin the leaders of the three Baltic states, the President of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda, the Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas and the Prime Minister of Latvia Krišjānis Kariņš. Ahead of the meeting, Scholz urged Russia to take clear steps to ease the stalemate. We are ready for serious dialogue, he said.

As it is known, these days Germany sent 350 additional soldiers to Latvia, as a reinforcement of the contingent of 1200 NATO soldiers, which Germany leads in Latvia.

On Monday (February 14) Chancellor Scholz will go to Kiev and on Tuesday (February 15) to Moscow.

The leading role of Germany in the de-escalation efforts for Ukraine was expressly praised on Monday (07.02.) By US President Joe Biden, during his visit to Washington by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Biden: “Germany is a very credible ally”

The main result of Chancellor Scholz’s introductory visit to Washington was the restoration of credibility, that Germany is a safe ally in the crisis between Ukraine and Russia. This was questioned by some media in America and some Republican congressmen. According to a statement sent to Berlin in late January by German Ambassador to Washington Emily Haber, they aimed at “severely discrediting” Germany, presenting it as an “unsafe ally” in the current crisis between Ukraine and Russia.

Chancellor Scholz said in Washington that “you can be sure: there will be no measures in which we will act differently, we will act unified and together.” As President Biden stated, “Germany is one of our most important allies in the world.” Joe Biden also said: “Germany is a very credible ally. “I have no doubt about that.”

Is Germany a “weak link” in the European relationship with Russia?

Ukraine’s current crisis with Russia came to the table of the new German government just days after it took over Germany. This explains any communication issues of the German attitude towards the current conflict. But this is now a thing of the past.

The main EU countries, Germany, France, Italy have essentially the same attitude towards Russia as Germany. The common goal is to preserve peace and prevent the destabilization of Europe.

But in line with personal traditions in foreign and security policy, there are superficial differences. The French also use strong diplomatic language towards Russia, to follow this with their own initiatives for a new dialogue with Russia, as President Macron did with President Putin three years ago.

Italy is a loyal NATO country. However, even in the current situation, in recent weeks, big Italian businessmen held economic negotiations with President Putin.

Germany has complex relations with Russia. On the one hand, present in many Germans is the historical guilt of the Nazi attack on the Soviet Union. On the other hand, Germany does not forget that Russia allowed the reunification of Germany.

At the same time: Germany’s stance must be measured by factual actions that are not lacking for European security. It was Germany’s weight that kept the EU united on sanctions against Russia, following the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014.

Economic pressure on Russia is one that will use in extreme cases, even in the current situation, a military power like the US. In this regard, Germany is fully in tune with the US strategy.

Nordstream 2 and end-of-project requirements

The demands to discontinue Nordstream 2 are not only principled, they relate to the direct economic interests of critics. For example. of Poland. The well-known German newspaper taz wrote these days that Poland aims to dominate the European gas market, along with the US. To this end Poland is building the Baltic Pipe pipeline across the Baltic Sea as well as giant liquefied gas tanks on the Baltic coast. In these tanks, liquefied natural gas from the US would be turned into gas again, with the main purpose of exporting it. The end of Nordstream 2 would help reorganize the gas market in Europe and move Germany out of business to date.

Regarding the current German stance on the Nordstream 2 pipeline: Chancellor Scholz said in the US in an interview with CNN, that we say to Russia: “If you march on Ukraine… this will have major consequences for your economy and your chances of development. “And we are ready to take steps that will cost us something.”

At the same time, the German Chancellor said that “we continue to work in all different formats, where there is dialogue today.” Scholzi told the Washington Post that he was aiming for a kind of “strategic ambiguity.” For Russia to mean many things, among the measures it may face.

Therefore, despite the focus on this issue by journalists and some Eastern states: it should not be overstated that Chancellor Scholz has not explicitly said that the Nordstream 2 pipeline will be shut down if Russia attacks Ukraine. The German chancellor said there would be no measures where we would act differently from the Americans. And President Biden said that in the event of an attack on Ukraine, there would be no Nordstream 2.

For Ukraine, Germany is the main donor of civil aid that this country has received. Since 2014, Ukraine has received 1.8 billion euros in financial assistance from Germany. While another 3.8 billion euros has been received through the EU, where the main net donor is also Germany. / Received from DW /

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