Russia – Dr Oliver Hartwich

How Germany’s political failures enabled Putin’s war

white concrete building during night time

Yes, “harder years, tough years” are coming for Germany. But they could be all the harder because the country’s leadership still is not ready to acknowledge its past failures or to apply the lessons to its future policy settings. [...]

Russia’s war against the West escalates

We should let go of the illusion that normality will return once the war in Ukraine is over. Russia’s war on Western democracy preceded its military aggression on Ukraine. It will continue as long as the Russian leadership remains in power. [...]

An adverse reaction the Kremlin did not see coming

saint basil s cathedral and spasskaya tower in red square moscow russia

The strategic implications of Putin’s war against Ukraine keep evolving as the conflict enters its fourth month. As yet another unintended consequence, it has broken the anti-EU axis between Warsaw and Budapest. [...]

Putin’s French candidate, Marine Le Pen

As Putin’s soldiers fight in eastern Ukraine, he is also involved in a battle much further west. Tragically, that western battle may even go his way. [...]

Old German habits of bureaucratic and political incompetence die slowly

The more things change, the more they stay the same. This is how Germany’s foreign and defence policy appears these days. [...]

The West is back

Putin’s war on Ukraine, and Zelensky’s heroism, force us all to take a stand. It leaves no room for neutrality, even if dressed up as an independent foreign policy. [...]

No excuse for being Russian

saint basil cathedral on red square at new year night

Targeting Putin and his supporters makes much sense. But demonising Russian culture more broadly is stupid, not least because it pushes Russians into line with the dictator. [...]

The economic consequences of the war

back view of people in street holding signs against the war in ukraine

Russia’s actions have set in motion a chain of events that could plunge the world into a serious economic crisis. [...]

No method in Putin’s madness

demonstrations in solidarity with ukraine

Putin’s attack on Ukraine was a complete miscalculation. But that now makes it our problem. [...]

Our generation’s historic challenge

protester holding sign with stop putin on it

We must rediscover the cultural and political foundations of our civilisation. It is the Enlightenment values of freedom and peace that we must defend against illiberalism, both at home and abroad. [...]