| Alarmed about the threat of Western nations imposing tough new sanctions on Moscow, corporate Germany has launched its own diplomatic offensive to try to ease the heightened tensions surrounding Ukraine.
But next month’s talks could help to provide an insight into the Kremlin chief’s plans for Ukraine. Moscow has so far not confirmed the date for the March meeting. New sanctions also risk strengthening China’s hand in Russia, including by creating tangible benefits for Chinese companies, Mr Hermes said. His committee has helped steer German-Russia business relations over the last 70 years – from the aftermath of World War II through to the rouble and euro debt crises, punctuated by short-lived post-Cold War optimism. And now it is dealing with the geopolitical tensions sparked by Mr Putin’s more nationalist Russia.
Barely two months into the chancellor’s job, Mr Scholz’s trip to Washington is shaping up as a delicate mission. The German leader is under fire over his handling of the Ukraine crisis, amid media reports of frustration in Washington about Berlin’s less-than-convincing role.Mr Scholz has also drawn unflattering contrasts with Angela Merkel, who as chancellor regularly stood up to Mr Putin.
The German leader last month finally caved into international pressure and agreed that “all options were on the table” after dropping his insistence that the pipeline was merely “a commercial venture”.