![]() The start of the Special Military Operation, despite the alarmism of the German media, was a surprise to German politicians. A similar effect was observed after his Moscow visit. Scholz's evasiveness at a press conference during his visit to Washington caused analysts to speculate about the true position of the chancellor regarding Nord Stream-2. However, under mounting pressure, Berlin began to show hesitation on this sensitive issue. Continuing the course of his predecessor, the new chancellor initially opposed possible sanctions on the pipeline. One of the central questions that Scholz tried to resolve was the fate of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. In that spirit, he became the last Western head of state to visit Moscow before the start of the Special Military Operation. Despite being barely settled in the chancellor's office, Olaf Scholz joined the diplomatic carousel of European politicians. ![]() Germany became one of the first states to evacuate its embassy from Kiev to Lvov. However, the growing tension in the Donbass forced Berlin to resort to new approaches in the spirit of crisis management. The government of Olaf Scholz, which began working in December 2021, intended to continue Angela Merkel's legacy in Ukraine. However, the leading role of Germany in the EU and the relative geographical proximity of the two states, as well as rich experience in working with soft power tools, gave Berlin certain advantages in Ukraine. This influence was not absolute and was in competition with other Western players, primarily with the United States and the states of Eastern Europe. In other words, in 2014-2022, Germany actively increased its political and economic influence in Ukraine. As Georg Milbradt, special envoy of the German government for decentralisation reform, stated : "Decentralisation in no way means separatism or federalisation." In addition, this reform was considered by the German side as a "countermodel" in relation to Russia, aimed at long-term changes. Thus, with the knowledge and control of German experts, the decentralisation reform was transformed into a reform of local governments. ![]() Student exchange programmes and the development of NGOs were expanded.īy providing financial and advisory support to Ukraine, Berlin often contributed to its deliberate avoidance of compliance with the Minsk agreements. German consultants worked in Ukraine as an economic profile representing law enforcement agencies: the Bundeswehr and the police. In 2014-2021 Berlin has spent 1.83 billion euros on Ukraine’s civil sector. Germany acted as one of Kiev’s main sources of financial assistance. The diplomatic efforts of the chancellor were developed by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose "formula" was designed to move the implementation of the Minsk agreements off the ground. At the Minsk format talks, Angela Merkel defended the position of the entire West and looked convincing in this role. Unlike American diplomats, representatives of the FRG did not strive for demonstrative publicity however, de facto they carried out large-scale work to strengthen their positions in a country defined by its internal contradictions. Berlin took an active part in the painful change of power in Kiev in 2013-2014. Since 2014, Germany has been considered one of the key states supporting Ukraine in its pursuit for Euro-Atlantic integration. Germany’s foreign policy relations with Ukraine became the lever by which Germany decided to change its place in Europe, not always realising the costs of these changes. To replace them, German politicians prioritised support for Kiev, including through the supply of weapons. Obeying the principles of the transatlantic consensus, Berlin launched a process that would force the collapse of its ties with Russia in politics, economics and civil society. The escalation of the Ukrainian crisis in February 2022 changed Germany and its politics. Today, this episode is remembered as an already-turned page in the history of German diplomacy. Against the backdrop of a rather cold visit to Russia by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock a few weeks earlier, Scholz's trip looked like a step towards normalising the stalled Russian-German dialogue. The chancellor laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Despite the fact that a significant part of the time in the negotiations with the President of Russia was devoted to the situation in the South-East of Ukraine, the leaders of Russia and Germany also discussed the prospects for the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, the trade balance, economic indicators, and interaction between non-government organisations. On February 15, 2022, Olaf Scholz made his first visit to Moscow as Chancellor of Germany.
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