On October 14, political analyst Ihor Chalenko discussed a new book by German journalists Katja Gloger and Georg Mascolo on his Klychokta channel. The book examines how German policy influenced Russia's preparations for a major war. Excerpts published in Spiegel magazine reveal that Berlin chose to cooperate with the Kremlin even after clear signs of Russia's aggression towards the West.
The book is based on classified documents and accounts from dozens of witnesses. The authors trace the path from Gerhard Schröder's government to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, showing that Germany ignored signals of growing Russian threat.
Special attention is paid to events after 2007, when Vladimir Putin, at the Munich Security Conference, directly opposed NATO expansion and declared conflict with the West. Berlin did not respond to these warnings, and at the 2008 NATO summit, Angela Merkel effectively blocked Ukraine and Georgia from receiving MAP status to avoid angering Moscow.
Subsequently, after the 2008 war in Georgia, Russia analyzed its military weaknesses and turned to Germany for army modernization. The German defense company Rheinmetall agreed to build a modern training center in Russia, deliver technology, and train Russian soldiers. The project covered eight training centers across Russia with a budget of €1 billion. Contacts between the two armies deepened, including planned officer exchanges.
All this took place amid mounting evidence of Russian aggression. Only after the 2014 annexation of Crimea and under sanctions pressure was official cooperation stopped, yet the groundwork and equipment were already in place, and some German companies continued to collaborate despite sanctions.
Chalenko notes that this story serves as a warning for the West: business interests should not outweigh security and values. Only acknowledging responsibility can help avoid repeating historical mistakes.
