Vladimir Putin has recently relented. He is not threatening anyone, he is not occupying anyone, he is not gathering thousands of soldiers on someone’s border. He also isn’t breaching international law, isn’t supporting separatists, and has displayed disdain for hacker attacks against Western institutions and companies.

He most definitely isn’t imprisoning opposition leaders in camps and would not even dare consider the idea of poisoning a critic. Finally, he is convincing Lukashenko to consider whether he had actually won the Belarusian elections.

Putin has changed because he suddenly likes and respects us and is impressed by our values.

So much for the shouting of the Russophobes from small Central and Eastern European states. They probably feel silly now.

A reward is in order for Putin’s metamorphosis, and the EU-Russian relations reset should be this reward. Angela Merkel prepared it, supported by French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.

According to this proposal, the Russian leader is to return to European salons — participate in meetings at summits with EU leaders. Of course, he will heed all sorts of conditions including the most important one: if he does something naughty next time, then the EU will respond. Perhaps even as decisively as it has previously. Of course, Putin will heed this warning.

In this way, one can describe the EU’s security and international policy shaped by its strongest players during times of crisis.

Angela Merkel is ending her chancellorship, holding her final speeches, making important decisions, and giving tips to her successors. She is also encouraging the evaluation of her work.

Merkel isn’t looking too good. Her decisions related to issues key to Europe’s security are harmful, at least for the weaker states which the EU was meant to care for. Merkel, who has used her term to work on both Nord Stream pipelines, is risking that she will be remembered as a variant of Gerhard Schröder. Meanwhile, her most likely replacement as chancellor, Armin Laschet, hasn’t even set sail and is already well-known to be a Moscow sympathizer.

Even in Poland, people are claiming that Germany is merely adhering to its own interests as Russia does not threaten them and is a crucial economic partner.

There is therefore no surprise that Germany wants to connect with Russia for generations through a pipeline with cheap gas.

The problem is that by betting on national interest and pursuing Russian business, Germany is destroying the European community. This does not fit the narratives that usually come from Germany about Europeaness, EU values, solidarity, and common EU interests.

The greatest responsibility for this not to be empty words lies with Berlin, the EU’s strongest player. We are becoming increasingly convinced that these are empty words. When it comes to business, Germany is always meant to benefit, no matter the consequences.

For Poland and other countries in our region, this is a painful lesson. Germany is their most important partner in the EU. Through imposing its own interests which are in opposition to ours in key matters, Berlin is undermining trust towards the European project. It is forcing the emancipation of Central and Eastern Europe.

These actions are strengthening those who criticize the EU in its current shape. It also encourages us to more strongly pursue our own interests which could be problematic for Germany. After all, should others have to accept that the EU is a game in which Germany always wins?

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See “Germany Europe’s Biggest Power”

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Source: https://rmx.news/article/commentary/opinion-germany-is-destroying-the-european-community

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