Russian-German Relations “after Crimea”: from “Partnership for Modernization” to Degradation of the Dialogue Formats

Abstract

This article concentrates on the analysis of the driving forces and processes in the Russian-German relations which in many respects have been defining and accompanying the radical changes in the dialogue between Moscow and Berlin since the spring of 2014. It reviews the state of their bilateral relations in political and economic spheres in the “pre-crisis” period, reveals the specifics of public and political discourse in Germany on Russia, the dynamic and quality of which to a great extent defined the dramatic changes of German foreign policy on Russian matters. Along with Russian and German information sources the article is based on the observations and conclusions of the author, who worked in the Embassy of Russia in Berlin in 2012–2017, and earlier worked in the “German” department of the Committee for External Relations of the Government of Saint Petersburg. The article also covers several aspects of practical diplomatic work devoted to the overcoming of crisis manifestations in Russian-German relations. It examines well-established by 2014 and still-developing information and internal political prerequisites for a significant “cooling” of German relations with Russia which was triggered by the events in Ukraine. The article analyses the main trends in German public and political discussion on the future of bilateral relations with Russia and their place and role in the international dimension in general. It contains examples of practical diplomatic activities, which allowed the process of rapid degradation of Russian-German dialogue to slow down significantly. Despite some progress achieved in 2017–2018 the dialogue itself is still in a serious crisis.