German President: Relations with Moscow and Washington will never be the same again

Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Illustrative image. Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Image

“Russia’s attack on Ukraine has fundamentally violated all principles of the European security system,” German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier stated on March 24 in Berlin during an event dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Federal Foreign Office.

According to him, for decades, the desire to create a "common European home" together with Russia after the fall of the "Iron Curtain" was a top priority, but Moscow's aggression against Kyiv makes this impossible.

“I believe that even after the war, regarding this Russia, the discussion will not be about peace, but about how probable a new conflict is. In short: today, Europe must ensure its security *from* Russia, not *with* Russia,” the head of state continued, adding that he believes there will “be no return to what was before February 24, 2022” in relations with Moscow.

According to the German President, the Bundeswehr must become "a pillar of conventional security in Europe."

“For this, our armed forces need full support not only from politicians but from society as a whole. This means: sufficient financial resources, modern weaponry, more personnel,” the politician explained.

He added that if voluntary service in the Armed Forces proves insufficient, the country will need to return to military conscription:

“I believe it is best to do this in the form of a mandatory period of public service for everyone, which some will serve in the Bundeswehr, and others in social institutions.”

In the same speech, the Federal President of Germany called the US and Israel's war with Iran a "political fatal mistake" that "contradicts international law" and "could have been avoided."

He noted serious changes in relations with the United States and, by analogy with Russia, suggested that there would "be no going back to the period before January 20, 2025," when Donald Trump's second presidential term began.

Steinmeier suggested that Berlin should be pragmatic in its relations with the current American administration and "focus on its core interests," but "not compromise on its principles" and not ignore international law in doing so.

“The US government has a different worldview than ours—one that shows no respect for established rules, partnerships, or hard-won trust. We cannot change this. We must deal with it. But I am convinced: we have no reason to adopt this worldview,” he said.

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