The West is currently weakening to such an extent that Ukraine has reason to be seriously concerned at a critical time and while Putin is being encouraged. Although weakness is not a unique German characteristic, the state elections in East Germany have revealed a stark mix of uncertainty, dissatisfaction, radical nationalism, pacifism and naive understanding of Russia. Everything was fuelled and exploited by populists, leading to protest elections. Other European democracies as well as the irreplaceable USA have similar divisive tendencies. They wait for the US presidential elections, including the German federal elections of 2025, are busy with themselves, stay out of conflicts.

Donald Tusk's Poland provides reason for hope despite ongoing domestic political tensions. At the same time, Finland and Sweden's accession to NATO has strengthened Europe's northern flank. By contrast, the Franco-German tandem is unable to lead the EU, and Great Britain has withdrawn on itself. The absolute priority challenges include protecting Ukraine, which is struggling for its existence due to Putin's aggression, from total destruction through full support and democratic Europe from destabilization.

In fact, this is why EU citizens and their politicians shouldn't be able to sleep peacefully. Yet too many do it because they do not want to admit that authoritarian great power politics and war have returned to Europe. This cannot be countered by ducking away into the imaginary niche of the nation state, accompanied by a great deal of ethics of attitude.

Sober realpolitik and effective deterrence are required as prerequisites for peacekeeping. Diplomacy also no longer works without countervailing power and cooperation in partnership rather than going it alone. The democratic West must pull itself together, Germany must overcome its standstill and internal contradictions. Otherwise, there is a risk of a rude awakening!

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The author, Ambassador Dr. Dietrich von Kyaw, former Permanent Representative of Germany to the EU, is the author of the book "Germany and the Self-Assertion of Europe," LIT-Verlag Münster/Westf. 2022.