The crash of flight MH17 could be the final straw in German-Russian relations over Ukraine

Germany has generally been assumed to have a more conciliatory foreign policy approach toward Russia over the Ukraine crisis than other European states such as Poland and the UK. Jocelyn Mawdsley writes on whether the crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17) in July 2014 over eastern Ukraine could harden the German stance. She notes that comments by Angela Merkel and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier since the crash suggest Germany may be ready to re-evaluate its approach.

ESO: Background information: What is wrong with German foreign policy? http://www.europeansources.info/record/what-is-wrong-with-german-foreign-policy/

ESO: Background information: The Ukraine crisis has highlighted the limitations of Germany’s ‘more active’ foreign policy approach http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-ukraine-crisis-has-highlighted-the-limitations-of-germanys-more-active-foreign-policy-approach/

ESO: Background information: Oettinger: EU may not help Russia develop Arctic oil, gas http://www.europeansources.info/record/oettinger-eu-may-not-help-russia-develop-arctic-oil-gas/

ESO: Background information: Council conclusions on Ukraine. Foreign Affairs Council meeting, Brussels, 22 July 2014 / All options are open in terms of sanctions: Dutch foreign minister http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-conclusions-on-ukraine-foreign-affairs-council-meeting-brussels-22-july-2014-all-options-are-open-in-terms-of-sanctions-dutch-foreign-minister/

DGAP: IP Journal, 02.06.14: How to Deal With Putin’s Russia? A German View https://ip-journal.dgap.org/en/blog/eye-europe/how-deal-putins-russia-german-view

ESO: Background information: Find all further information in ESO on the MH17 air crash http://www.europeansources.info/advSearchLink?keyword=mh17%20&searchOption=all

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