Russian - German Relations Are Now At The Lowest Point Since The Fall Of The Berlin Wall

Chancellor Angela Merkel in the lower house of parliament Bundestag in Berlin, Nov. 26, 2014. Stefanie Loos—Reuters

German Chancellor Says Russia’s Actions Are Unjustifiable -- Time

Angela Merkel appears to be taking a tougher stance against Vladimir Putin

German Chancellor Angela Merkel Wednesday suggested she is prepared for a drawn-out confrontation with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the Ukraine crisis

“We need patience and staying power to overcome the crisis,” Merkel told German lawmakers in a speech to Berlin’s parliament. She added that economic sanctions on Russia “remain unavoidable” as long as government forces continue to battle pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine, Bloomberg reports.

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More News On The Deterioration Of Russian - German Relations

Germany's Merkel Says Continued Russia Sanctions Are 'Unavoidable' -- AP
Merkel says patience needed to resolve Ukraine crisis -- Reuters
Merkel Says Firmness With Putin Required to Solve Ukraine -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Merkel Says Russia Trampling On International Law -- Radio Free Europe
Merkel Accuses Russia of Violating Europe’s Peaceful Order -- WSJ
Merkel says sanctions against Russia still necessary -- ITAR-TASS
Merkel: Sanctions Against Russia to Remain in Force -- Sputnik
Germany to go ahead with support for Ukraine, have dialogue with Russia — Merkel -- ITAR-TASS
Why Angela Merkel is saying farewell to Ostpolitik -- Natalie Nougayrède, The Guardian

My Comment: This is the most important relationship in Europe .... and it impacts everyone. My prediction .... the Ukraine crisis is not going to end soon .... and as a result Russian - German relations are probably going to be in the "deep freeze" for the foreseeable future .... doubly so with sanctions now in place.

The Ukraine Crisis Is Testing The Russian - German Relationship

Russian President Vladimir Putin talks to German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Kurhaus resort garden in Wiesbaden, October 15, 2007. REUTERS/Bernd Kammerer/Pool

Ukraine Crisis Hardens Germany Against Russia, An Old Partner -- New York Times

BERLIN — Over recent months, something significant has happened in Europe: In the crisis over Ukraine, Germany has assumed leadership not just in its familiar fashion of trying to coax Russia away from belligerence and bluster, but in standing firm and imposing sanctions on Moscow even if it hurts German business.

Perhaps even more remarkable is that Germans, long anxious to preserve commercial, energy and cultural ties with their vast eastern neighbor, have gone along. Seventy percent of 1,003 adults polled last week by Infratest dimap for the public broadcaster ARD approved of stricter sanctions; just 15 percent viewed Russia as a reliable partner in a poll with a three-percentage-point margin of sampling error.

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Update: Merkel Wants to Continue Ukraine Talks With Putin Despite Sanctions -- Ria Novosti

My Comment: The Russian - German relationship is critical to the long term economic and security concerns of Europe. The Ukraine crisis is definitely testing it right now .... but unless Russia decides to invade Ukraine, this relationship will survive this crisis because it has to.