Germany’s Response to the Ukraine Crisis

Although the United States and its European allies still hope diplomacy can avert a conflict with Russia over Ukraine, it is not clear how united the west is in its response to the unfolding crisis.

It was widely reported that the United Kingdom sent aircraft carrying weapons bound for Ukraine “around” Germany and that Germany stopped the transfer of artillery from Estonia to Ukraine sparking questions about Berlin’s support for Kyiv. Over the weekend Germany’s chief naval officer resigned over controversial remarks he made about Russia and the threat to Ukraine. Some analysts and observers have described Germany’s position on the crisis as “schizophrenic.” Writing for the Center for European Policy Analysis, Oxana Schmies spoke of “Germany’s paralyzing fear of war,” and warned that for the new government it is “worryingly clear that forging a united Russia policy is difficult and marred by underlying disagreement. [Link]

As the prospects of Russian provocation and action against Ukraine reach the boiling point, it is fair to ask how reliable a partner Germany is (and will be) as the United States and other allies lean forward in deterrence and preparation for response.

Join the American Council on Germany and the Tennessee World Affairs Council for a discussion with Ambassador John Kornblum, former U.S. Ambassador to Germany, and Dr. Liana Fix, Resident Fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

Ambassador John C. Kornblum has a long record of service in the United States and Europe both as a diplomat and as a businessman. He is recognized as an eminent expert on U.S.-European political and economic relations, in particular in Central and Eastern Europe. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to Germany from 1997 to 2001. Before that, he occupied a number of high-level diplomatic posts, including U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European affairs, Special Envoy for the Dayton Peace Process, U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Process), Deputy U.S. Ambassador to NATO, and U.S. minister and deputy commandant of forces in divided Berlin.

Dr. Liana Fix is a Resident Fellow at the German Marshall Fund’s Washington office, while on sabbatical from the International Affairs Department of the Körber Foundation in Berlin. She is a political scientist and historian, and her work focuses on Russia and Eastern Europe, European security, arms control, and German foreign policy. She will be focusing on transatlantic policy toward Russia while at GMF. Dr. Fix has published widely in academia, thinktanks, and national and international media. She holds a doctorate degree from the Justus Liebig University Giessen and a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science.