The Kremlin insanity seems to be increasing daily.... From: Timothy Ash (STANDARD BANK PLC) Date: Tue, Dec 9, 2014 at 4:22 PM Subject: Russia/Ukraine/Germany - Lavrov comments Pretty remarkable comments from Lavrov, and not particularly diplomatic: uk.reuters/article/2014/12/09/uk-russia-germany-lavrov-idUKKBN0JN15H20141209?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews It kind of affirms the earlier message I sent, underlying the now very poor state of relations between Putin and Merkel. Russia did see Germany, and Merkel, as offering it leverage in Europe over the criss in Ukraine and against the US, UK, Baltics and Poland, through the German business lobby. I think the message from Lavrov is now that Moscow sees Merkel as the problem, and perhaps this is a warning to Merkel that she can be undermined through the Social Democrats and also the business lobby within the CDU. Germany and Merkel have been key to bringing Europe around behind US initiatives against Russia on the sanctions front. Any attempt by Russia to destabilise the domestic Germany political landscape will quite obviously be very negatively viewed in Germany, and by Merkel. Not sure I would bet against Merkel in any scenario, so if Lavrov and Putin are looking to pick a fight with Merkel I think they would need to think this through very carefully. And, I am not sure this is a very useful stategy by Russia in terms of making friends and influencing people in Europe. Just to recap and Germany and Merkel are key/central to shaping any EU strategy towards the crisis in Ukraine.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 23:02:33 +0000
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