Germany’s eastern challenge and the Russia-Ukraine crisis: A new ostpolitik in the making?

Abstract

Since the Russia-Ukraine crisis in 2014, Germany’s foreign policy has been subject to international pressures to engage more actively in restoring the peace and security order in Europe. Particularly in its eastern policy, Berlin has had to redefine its traditional foreign policy, towards what could be termed a ‘hybrid Ostpolitik’. The introduction sets the context of GermanRussian relations before 2014, and discusses the elements of continuity and change regarding Germany’s role in Europe and transatlantic relations thereafter. It then presents an overview of the contributions to the special issue which are grouped around three themes: the question of the nature of German power and leadership; the effects of the Ukraine crisis on the Euro-Atlantic order and its impact on German foreign policy; and Germany’s changing bilateral relations with the United States and its eastern neighbours in the wake of the Ukraine crisis.