Pod znakiem Zeitenwende. Konflikt rosyjsko-ukraiński z perspektywy Niemiec (2014-2022)
Under the Zeitenwende banner. The Russian-Ukrainian conflict from the standpoint of Germany (2014-2022)

Summary/Abstract: The aim of the article is to provide an overview of Germany’s post-Cold War policy towards Russia, especially in the context of such epoch-making political events in Ukraine as the Orange Revolution, the Russian annexation of Crimea and the conflict in eastern Ukraine, and Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, as well as the accompanying announcements of a breakthrough in German foreign and security policy under the Zeitenwende banner. Therefore, the following research hypothesis can be put forward: Russian military actions against Ukraine in 2022 appear to mark a turning point in German policy towards Russia that signifies a major divergence from the German perception of Russia as a link promoting the stability of the global environment. They also portend a potential bigger turn in German foreign policy toward assuming more responsibility for international security matters. Although Russia’s image in Germany had been undergoing gradual changes in the previous years, the new phase of the conflict (since February 2022) radically accelerated this process.The monographic method was used in the preparation of the article, which allowed for discussion of the facts cited, including their cause and effect sequence, and this in turn facilitated an analysis of the key aspects of the evolution of German policy towards Russia. Content analysis method was also employed to examine program documents, statements, selected legislative acts and studies.

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