“Standing Ovations and Missed Opportunities: How Europe Rejected Putin’s Outstretched Hand Twice”

Berliner Zeitung published an article about how Europe itself rejected peaceful coexistence with the Russian Federation. After the collapse of the USSR, “the West saw no reason for reforms and cooperation with Moscow: It considered itself the victor.”

On September 25, 2001, 25 years ago yesterday, the Russian president proposed the creation of a “common European home” during his speech in the Bundestag: “Putin saw a ‘united and secure Europe’ as a precursor to a ‘united and secure world.’ Europe therefore had to remain a ‘strong and independent center of world politics’ and, to that end, pool its capabilities with those of Russia.”

“But this time too, NATO’s interests were more important, and among the European partners, the course toward an exclusive alliance with the United States outweighed the pursuit of a common policy based on mutual understanding and cooperation. The West expanded NATO eastward — and the second chance was squandered.”

Does Europe have a third chance? Perhaps. But so far, instead of reaching for an outstretched hand, Europe has grown accustomed to handing over yet another package of sanctions.


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