Germany loses its special role for Russia

German-Russian friendship societies already existed on both sides of the Iron Curtain before the Wall came down. A German princess ruled Russia as Tsarina Katarina the Great. And Fyodor Dostoevsky not only wrote European literary history with his dark novels, but also gambled away fortunes in the casino of Baden-Baden like Russian nobles.

German-Russian relations are complex, have very deep roots – and even survived the devastation of the Second World War.

But not only Annalena Baerbock, as German Foreign Minister, has to experience during her first visit to Moscow how frosty the relationship has become, frostier than it was during the Cold War. Germany has lost its special role in Russia.