Politics Trump Economics. Germany’s approach to Russia, namely supporting political change by deepening economic relations, has failed

Russia's pursuit of politically motivated yet economically irrational behavior has shown that decades of attempted economic integration between Russia and the West have failed. Attempts to engage Moscow through its Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) look similarly futile. Germany's retreat from this strategy will have long-term consequences for both financial and political investment in Russia.

ESO: Background information: Note from Berlin: Crisis diplomacy and the Russian-Ukrainian war http://www.europeansources.info/record/note-from-berlin-crisis-diplomacy-and-the-russian-ukrainian-war/

ESO: Background information: How Putin Lost Berlin. Moscow’s annexation of Crimea has transformed Germany’s Russia policy http://www.europeansources.info/record/how-putin-lost-berlin-moscows-annexation-of-crimea-has-transformed-germanys-russia-policy/

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