Ulrich Speck: It’s time to seriously rethink our relationship with Russia in the light of recent events. Putin has invaded the Crimea while in permanent contact with the German chancellor and foreign minister

Source: https://www.facebook.com/ulrich.speck/posts/10201243815927094

The invasion and – likely – annexation of the Crimea also signifies the failure of an EU policy driven by German Social Democrats aiming at socializing post-Soviet Russia by embracing its leaders. Instead of modernizing and liberalizing Russia, this approach has done nothing to prevent the country from becoming an illiberal autocracy, a petro-state and a threat for its neighbors.

But of course Social Democrats will always claim that their policies haven’t been fully executed, that Russian leaders haven’t been embraced enough, and they may hint that America is to blame.

However, it’s time to seriously rethink our relationship with Russia in the light of recent events. Putin has invaded the Crimea while in permanent contact with the German chancellor and foreign minister. Their messages did nothing to convince him not to violate core principles of the UN order, territorial sovereignty and sanctity of borders.