Germany and the Russia-West Standoff

Germany has long been a leading European power, but the Ukraine crisis has forced Berlin to become more active in Russia's standoff with the West. The German government is playing a key role in Ukraine and elsewhere in the former Soviet periphery. Although Germany has preferred to balance between Russia and the United States in its mediation efforts, Berlin is becoming increasingly willing to stand up to both Moscow and Washington and act independently in service of its national interests in the region, albeit within limits.