I am of the opinion that Germany and its chancellor Angela Merkel are a basic key in the development of any effective approach to striking a balance of power with a more aggressive Russia. The US is attempting to play its traditional role as leader of the free world in being the visible counter weight to Russia's territorial ambitions. However, that role really belongs to the past world of massive arms races. The present world is one where economic conflict plays a greater role. Germany is in a more central position in the European economy than the US. Merkel is crafty and cautious. She has been slow to jump on Washington's bandwagon, but there are signs that her patience with Putin is wearing thin.
Merkel warns Putin to do more to end Ukraine crisis German chancellor says she told Russian president European ministers will meet to discuss further sanctions against Russia
The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, said on Friday that she told Vladimir Putin that Russia had not done enough to implement the Geneva accord and EU foreign ministers would meet as soon as possible to contemplate further sanctions against Russia.
At a news conference in Berlin with Poland's prime minister, Donald Tusk, Merkel said Russia had the means to convince the pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine to take a peaceful route but showed no sign of doing so.
"I spoke to the Russian president this morning and made clear again that on the one hand Ukraine has taken a whole series of steps to implement the Geneva accord but on the other side I see no Russian backing for the accord which would of course have an effect on the separatists in Ukraine," she said.
"We will therefore have to react. This will be a joint European action and an action by the G7 ... because of the lack of progress we will have to contemplate further sanctions within the second stage of sanctions."
If Merkel really means business about applying EU pressure on Russia, then she probably has the clout to pull it off. She clearly isn't interested in participating in the rhetorical pissing contest being played between Washington and Moscow.