Germany has a special relationship with Russia and Ukraine, because the history, geography, economy and network of social relations that bind it to these two countries are special. But this does not mean that Germany under the leadership of Chancellor Olaf Scholz aspires to carve out a special role now, using privileged channels or talking alone in the search for dialogue with Moscow at the last minute to avoid military conflict. Berlin prefers to be the spokesperson for concerted action and join the common threat of severe sanctions and serious repercussions against Russia launched by the EU, Brussels and Paris, and then by Washington and London.
This is the diplomatic framework within which Scholz is moving who, after having met the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday 14 February, will be in Moscow on the 15th for his inaugural visit to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Germany does not have an “ahistorical” policy
Scholz thinks like the Germans do: Germany cannot afford the mistake of adopting an approach ahistorisch, «Ahistorical», in relations with all the countries of the former Soviet Union and, of course, with Russia, cannot afford to forget «the immense suffering inflicted on the peoples of these countries by the Germans and in the name of Germany». Nor can representatives of the German government go to Ukraine and Russia without showing “a sense of gratitude” for the fact that in recent decades it has been possible to re-establish friendly relations between the peoples of these countries and Germany, despite “unspeakable crimes” of the Germans.
The story that binds Germany to Ukraine and Russia is a tragic story for Berlin, which Berlin cannot forget.
Scholz and Germany’s priority: peace
Thus for Scholz, whom the German press criticizes from the right and the left for his style too under the lines calling him “the invisible chancellor”, first of all at this moment peace comes.