Russlands Weg (Russia’s Path, in German)
Rüdiger von Fritsch, Aufbau, €25.00
Rüdiger von Fritsch took up his position as Germany’s Ambassador to Moscow in May 2014 and remained in post for five years. He arrived just as Germany’s Russia policy was undergoing a significant shift in response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its efforts to fan the flames of counter-revolution in south-eastern Ukraine. Shy of confronting Moscow, Berlin now saw no alternative. It succeeded in leading a European Union response based on support for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia. To the Kremlin’s surprise, the EU was able to speak with a single voice.
Review: Berlin’s man in Moscow
John Lough assesses an ambassador’s view of Putin’s power plays
