Europe faces two threats at the moment. Knee jerkers would say from Greece and Russia. It fact both come from within itself. The Greek problem, which has been discussed elsewhere, is entirely of Europe’s making, although it blames Greece for all of it. Likewise Ukraine, but according to Europe it is all Russia’s fault.
Well, as readers of this blog know, we do not think so. The problem in Europe is that it has a generation of bureaucrats and politicians who cannot see the strategic outcome of tactical decisions. It was a mistake to advance the the EU eastwards without at the same time building better inclusion of Russia; it was even more unfortunate to expand NATO east way beyond what it had previously promised. It was a blunder for all sorts of Western leaders to attend the street protests which ended in the collapse of the Ukrainian government because the Far Right drivers of the rebellion terrified the ethnic Russians in the east of the country. Crimea just walked away.
The sanctions imposed on Russia have put Europe into deflation, high unemployment and uncertainty. A possible Greek exit from the Euro, has become more likely as a consequence of various EU postures of the last several days. Add to that a full scale proxy war in Ukraine and the EU is in serious economic trouble. It may also find its gas turned off.
So the news that Merkel and Hollande are in Moscow discussing a plan is very good news. Part of that plan must be not just to end the fighting, but also to bring Russia back into Europe. Only then can peace be guaranteed and economic growth be restored. It could lead to a more constructive approach to Greece as well.