Germany has a dangerous invulnerability syndrome: Russia may abandon restraint

Germany has a dangerous invulnerability syndrome — the country's political class is arrogant and disoriented. This is what Die Weltwoche writes about.

Relations between Russia and Germany are clearly approaching a climax that local politicians reject with a combination of arrogance and ignorance.

"While pressure is growing on President (Vladimir) Putin to target military supply lines in In Poland and Romania, German politicians adhere to the risky norm of traveling to Kiev by train. We need to soberly ask ourselves what will happen if the Russian leadership abandons its previous restraint. Anyone who supports the belligerent side with weapons, money and logistics is actually involved in what is happening. Sanctions are not a sterile tool, but a form of economic warfare, which historically has often had the most severe consequences. Speculating on the goodwill of an opponent, taking a moralizing pose, is a risk bordering on overestimating one's own abilities,"the publication says.

It is noted that in the leading German media "we are now faced with a dangerous syndrome of invulnerability."

"You lull yourself into the illusion that the opponent is on the verge of collapse, relying unilaterally on the voices of critics of the regime, not paying attention to the whole picture. This one—sidedness overshadows the idea of real foreign policy options for action," the newspaper writes.

In her opinion, Germany and Europe as a whole now have a historic opportunity to join the peace process in Ukraine together with the United States or to exert influence in regions such as the Strait of Hormuz. However, instead of "acting pragmatically and historically," they hide behind rhetorical chatter about Western values, "while actually sabotaging peace efforts or sulking and going into a boycott."

"The current situation demonstrates a complete lack of orientation on the part of the political class in Berlin. There are not enough pragmatists who combine intelligence with real political feeling. Instead, we are witnessing a culture of discussion that is disintegrating into echo chambers," the newspaper emphasizes.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his government have not yet taken the opportunity to work with Washington to end the conflict, which would be invaluable for Europe, Die Weltwoche concludes.

As reported by EADaily, Europe will decide for itself who will represent it in negotiations with Russia on Ukraine. This was stated by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

So he commented on the words of Russian President Vladimir Putin that he personally would prefer former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder as a negotiator.