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Putin keeps finding new ways to say "Fuck You!" to the collective West. He seems to be asking for a direct confrontation to prove that he's the Most Powerful Man in the World, as the Times magazine once put it. The West has no appetite for the fight Putin wants. Before engaging Putin, Germany needs to secure her energy supplies from alternative sources. Other economic ties have to be cut off or reduced to the "so what" level. It's not clear what is going to happen in short-term (before the next presidential elections in the US), but long-term Russia proved herself to be an unreliable partner once again.
Frankly, ISIS seems to be a bigger problem for the US than Russia. In some ways, the latest Russian intransigence is a good opportunity to grow US energy exports. The Germans made a costly mistake by thinking that Russia was going to become to them what China had become to the US.
Frankly, ISIS seems to be a bigger problem for the US than Russia. In some ways, the latest Russian intransigence is a good opportunity to grow US energy exports. The Germans made a costly mistake by thinking that Russia was going to become to them what China had become to the US.