Weimar Triangle emphasizes solidarity with Germany after Russia accusation

After the meeting of EU foreign ministers in Ireland, Johann Wadephul (CDU) also experienced one thing above all in the small circle of the Weimar Triangle: solidarity. On Wednesday evening he traveled to Weimar, the format of talks with the French and Poles is celebrating its 35th anniversary these weeks, and on Thursday the German Foreign Minister said: “If you look at the picture as a whole in Europe and, to be honest, beyond that, then what is being shown here is an impressive picture of solidarity.”

It's about the solidarity that Germany experienced after the decision to blame Russia for the attack on Leipzig Airport and to draw conclusions from it. “And I think that had an impact in Moscow too.” However, the fact how clearly the German government is now pointing to this broad solidarity also indicates how serious the situation is assessed.

See F.A.Z. articles more often in your search results

F.A.Z. prefer on Google

Even before the German announcement that Russia was responsible, it was clear that the meeting in Weimar would also be dominated by the war in Ukraine and the question of how to counter the Russian aggressor. After the announcement, addresses of solidarity were quickly sent to Germany from Paris and Warsaw. In Weimar, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot once again pledged his country's and the EU's support for Germany.

Poland: No “business as usual” with Russia

And Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski warns that it is not possible to conduct “business as usual” with Russia in other areas as long as Moscow does not abandon its idea of rebuilding its empire. The Poles know the danger. It was only on Wednesday that Prime Minister Donald Tusk declared that the fire at a Polish drone factory was a case of sabotage.

For Germany, the measures against Russia have now led to the first, expected Russian countermeasure with the closure of the Goethe Institute in Moscow and its branches. In Berlin it is assumed that it will not be the last. Wadephul criticizes Russia's decision in Weimar. “I regret that Russia has taken this step and will close the Goethe-Institut,” he says. The Goethe-Institut also “took on an important function as a cultural bridge” in Russia, and we would have been prepared to continue that.

The closure of the institute was feared in response to the closure of the Russian House in Berlin, where all employees sent from Russia will soon have to leave Germany. It is not yet officially known whether Moscow will respond to the closure of the consulate general in Bonn by closing the consulate general in St. Petersburg or take other measures.

The Union and SPD want to upgrade the Weimar Triangle

The view to the east was the focus of the format from the start, albeit under completely different circumstances. In August 1991, the foreign ministers from Bonn, Paris and Warsaw met in Weimar for the first time. Hans-Dietrich Genscher in particular pushed the format forward after the end of the Cold War in order to strengthen the relationship with Poland and also to shape a new Eastern European (security) order. However, the format later lost its importance and the meetings became less frequent.

In the coalition agreement, the Union and SPD had stipulated an upgrade of the format. “In the Weimar Triangle we will seek close coordination on all relevant issues of European policy in order to act more unitedly in the service of the entire EU,” it says. However, there had recently been discontent in Warsaw because the E3 with Paris and London had become the preferred format for Berlin in view of the votes surrounding the war in Ukraine.

In Weimar, Wadephul said: “Together we want to defend and shape our European peace order, which we as Europeans achieved with the greatest sacrifices in the 20th century.” They “agreed that the path to renewed peace in Europe can only lead through resolute support for Ukraine and consistent pressure on Moscow.”