Scholz gave a press conference at the Ritz Carlton Hotel after the meeting with the Russian President.
(Photo: dpa)
Europe breathes a sigh of relief, at least a little: It looks as if diplomacy in the Ukraine crisis is still getting a chance. If Moscow’s assurances stand up, Europe will be able to avoid the escalation feared and forecast by the USA in the coming days. But nobody in Berlin or Warsaw, Paris or Brussels can really breathe a sigh of relief.
Firstly, the basic conflict with Russia, which fears for its sphere of influence, is far from over. In his reading, Vladimir Putin has benefited from keeping Ukraine and all of Europe on a permanent state of alert, both domestically and abroad.
Secondly, if the approximately 140,000 Russian soldiers around Ukraine, if the most dangerous situation in Europe for decades, have shown one thing, it is how vulnerable and partially defensible the continent is without the US ally at the moment. This confrontation will shape and change the discussions and strategies in foreign and security policy in the coming months and years.
When the NATO members in Madrid decide on the organization’s new strategic concept in the summer, defense strength in Europe will be the central topic. In the future, national politicians in Europe will justify any increase in defense spending with this near-war experience, which I hope will remain so.
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Nothing could have demonstrated the need for better European preparedness better than Putin’s show of force on the Ukrainian border.
Because in the long term, the US will likely continue to shift its focus to the Asia-Pacific region and the confrontation with China. Even if there will not be complete defense policy sovereignty in Europe, the international community must therefore move a good deal in this direction.
The close coordination in the crisis negotiations with Moscow can serve as a model for better coordination of European foreign and security policy. At the same time, the conflict teaches us that energy policy resilience is an important part of foreign policy strength. If new forms of energy and sources such as hydrogen are discussed in the course of the climate change, it will become more important in future, as a result of Europe’s experience of crisis, not to become too dependent on individual states. And at least that’s a good thing.
More on this: Our news blog on the Ukraine crisis