Are sanctions making Russia richer?
As oil prices surge, Putin’s billions are soaring
Olaf Scholz is tanking
North-Rhine Westphalia is Germany’s largest state, almost as large as the Netherlands. It was a traditional SPD fiefdom during the…
Olaf Scholz is becoming Putin’s most valuable ally
If you think that Boris Johnson’s parties in Downing Street constitute a serious matter of state, you might want to…
Germany’s attitude to Russia is changing. Does it go far enough?
Germany’s attitude to Russia is changing fast
How Putin wins the war
There was a revealing comment yesterday from Robert Habeck, the German economics minister. It is a comment that inadvertently suggests…
Europe is painfully reliant on Putin
Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine in the early hours of this morning, starting with a massive air attack from…
Sanctions won't stop Putin
The Lithuanian prime minister, Ingrida Šimonyte, put it well yesterday: ‘the way we respond will define us for the generations to…
How the Ukraine crisis ends
Vladimir Putin does not think in the way the West does. Of course sanctions will hurt. But so what? He…
In the pipeline: would Germany side with Russia in a conflict?
Germany’s curious alliance with Russia
Blair is right: Boris doesn't have a plan for Britain
What can Boris Johnson and the Tories learn from Tony Blair? While Labour’s former leader remains deeply unpopular – and indeed…
Why Omicron may overwhelm our health service
What we know from the imperfect data we have is that Omicron is vastly more infectious but less virulent than…
The many challenges facing Germany’s new Chancellor
The many challenges facing Germany’s new Chancellor
Covid could paralyse the new German coalition
An iron curtain has descended on Europe, and once again, it goes right through the middle of Germany. The average…
Ukrainian annexation is already happening
Nato and the EU are fearing a Russian invasion of eastern Ukraine. They have reason to be concerned, given that Russia…
What is the Bank of England playing at?
Last week, the Bank of England sent a number of confused messages. One was almost shocking: Andrew Bailey said that…
Who will succeed Merkel?
The results of the German election have shifted somewhat since last night’s exit poll. What we know for sure is…
The stalemate election: can Germany move beyond Merkel?
Germany needs to progress beyond Merkel – but will it?
Aukus is a disaster for the EU
It is hard to overstate the importance of the so-called Aukus alliance between the US, the UK and Australia —…
The vaccination campaign is making the same mistakes as Remain
One of the great cautionary tales of the last five years is how political campaigns can start off with what…
Could Germany's flood disaster have been prevented?
As the floods which have devastated homes and caused over 150 deaths recede in the Rhineland, three types of political…
Angela’s ashes: Merkel is leaving the EU in chaos
Merkel is leaving the EU in chaos
The EU has learnt nothing from Brexit
This is Brexit all over again. The Swiss government yesterday pulled the plug on its seven-year negotiation of the EU-Swiss…
The collapse of the Brexit scare stories
The collapse in UK-EU trade after 1 January was widely reported. What has not been reported nearly as much is…
Europe’s reckless caution over AstraZeneca
The first smear campaign against AstraZeneca, when Emmanuel Macron falsely claimed at the start of the year that the jab…
Biden vs Merkel: the battle over Russian gas is heating up
Russia’s influence on Germany is causing alarm