Scholz Says European Security Must Include Russia

Germany Chancellor Olaf Scholz has written on Twitter: 'I made it clear to President Putin in Moscow that we Germans and Europeans can only achieve sustainable security with and not against Russia. Courageous action is needed from us all. We have an imperative duty to work for peace.'

• The inclusion of Russia in European security talks has been an objective of Russia's belligerence on the Ukrainian border and any inclusion of Moscow in genuine talks to redefine the European security architecture will be considered a victory for Putin.
• One of the key questions remaining will be how Germany assesses its role in NATO. The US has urged Germany to commit more funds to the NATO and some analysts believe that the current crisis will bolster German resolve for military defence funding.
• Putin may have provoked concessions on Ukraine but inadvertently induced a solidification of NATO in previously ambivalent NATO members.