Ukraine as a Litmus Test: Germany Must Redefine Its Role in Europe and the World
Abstract
US President Donald Trump’s policy of undermining multilateralism, redefining relations with Europe, and normalizing relations with Russia is an expression of a changing world order. It also exposes the limits of European actorness. Germany must redefine its role in Europe and its policies toward Russia and Eastern Europe. Ukraine is the test case for whether Moscow and Washington will recognize Germany and Europe as relevant actors. If Ukraine fails, Europe will fail. At the same time, Ukraine is crucial for influencing change within Russia.
Fields of Study & Subjects
European Politics and Security
European and Russian Geopolitical Military Strategies
German Security and Defense Policies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Social Science Open Access Repository (GESIS – Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences)
- Publication date
- 9 February 2026
- Language
- EN