On dependency – Melanie Amann and Veit Medick interviewing Steinmeier in Der Spiegel:

‘DER SPIEGEL: Are you appealing to the German government to become more independent of China? Steinmeier: Of course, we have to reduce our dependencies, and that is also happening. There isn’t a single sector in Germany that isn’t looking at how to shorten supply chains, diversify suppliers and reorient logistics. But we will remain a rather unique country: We are extremely poor in natural resources on the one hand, but our products are present in almost every market in the world. You could even say: We actually live from dependencies. These dependencies will remain, not only when it comes to natural resources, but also when it comes to China’s role in the increasingly pressing fight against climate change. Yes, we have to draw lessons from the misjudgments in our relations with Russia. But we shouldn’t delude ourselves: Relations between democracies and autocratic countries, including Germany’s approach to China, will always be a balancing act between maintaining distance and engaging in cooperation.’

(…)

‘DER SPIEGEL: How can this war be brought to an end? Steinmeier: That is a question that is on all of our minds. I don’t find it helpful to provide clever advice from afar. One thing is clear: Our country stands at Ukraine’s side.’

Read the interview here.

Two conclusions, no end of the war in sight. No end of Germany’s and other country’s dependencies in sight.

And solidarity is mainly a gesture, an intention.