In Germany, even the semantics of the word “to lead” — fuehren — are loaded because of associations with Adolf Hitler.
Ukraine
Germany’s Assumptions About Peace and Power Are Out of Sync With Reality
Before the fighting broke out in Ukraine, Germany behaved like a big Switzerland, with no obvious interests abroad apart from developing new markets for its exports.
Why This Ukrainian ‘Revolution’ May Be Doomed, Too
Most Ukrainians wanted their country to be different by now. Even those who didn’t support the Maidan were fed up with living in Europe’s most corrupt country.
Moscow Uses Tanks, Berlin Words in World War II Commemorations
In an irony of history, Germany is now the one country that has the moral authority to bridge the contradictions in remembering World War II.
How Vladimir Putin’s Skewed View of World War II Threatens his Neighbors and the West
Remembering the Great Victory is more than an instrument to consolidate Russians. It has also become a way to prepare people for war.
Germany Finally Seeing Vladimir Putin for Who He Really Is
Ready or not, Angela Merkel has become the West’s unlikely leader of the pro-Ukrainian cause.
Kremlin TV
Putin takes perverse pride in revealing the details of the secret mission to bring Crimea “home.” He gloats in the big lie and invites Russians to join him.
Vladimir Putin’s Religious, Ethnic Rhetoric Gets a Little Scary in Russian State-of-the-Union Address
Putin shared no vision of where the country is heading. Instead he looked back, portraying Russia as a besieged fortress since time immemorial.
How War in Ukraine Led to Russian Opposition Leader Boris Nemtsov’s Death
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia isn’t about ethnicity or language — it’s about the kind of country that people want to live in.
Debaltseve Debacle Puts Ukraine’s Leader in Jeopardy. That Suits Vladimir Putin Just Fine.
If another government-held city falls, say the port of Mariupol, Petro Poroshenko will have to be just as concerned about the home front as the front line.
