
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


In late February, German chancellor Olaf Scholz described Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a ‘Zeitenwende’ - turning point - sparking the biggest shift in German foreign policy since the Cold War.
The highlights included a 100bn euro package to boost the military and meet Nato’s 2 per cent of GDP defence spending obligation, send weapons to Ukraine and end his country’s dependency on Russian energy.
A surprisingly bold plan from a man many had thought was - like many of his predecessors - naturally cautious. He drew applause at home and abroad, but two months on there is sense that Scholz is wavering.
Can he, and will he, see his plan through?
Joining David Aaronovitch in the briefing room are:
Sir Paul Lever, former British Ambassador to Germany and author of Berlin Rules: Europe and the German Way
Professor Markus Ziener, Helmut Schmidt Fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States
Daniela Schwarzer, Director of the German Council on Foreign Relations
Sophia Besch, senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform
Producers: Octavia Woodward, Kirsteen Knight and Ben Carter
By BBC Radio 44.8
5353 ratings
In late February, German chancellor Olaf Scholz described Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a ‘Zeitenwende’ - turning point - sparking the biggest shift in German foreign policy since the Cold War.
The highlights included a 100bn euro package to boost the military and meet Nato’s 2 per cent of GDP defence spending obligation, send weapons to Ukraine and end his country’s dependency on Russian energy.
A surprisingly bold plan from a man many had thought was - like many of his predecessors - naturally cautious. He drew applause at home and abroad, but two months on there is sense that Scholz is wavering.
Can he, and will he, see his plan through?
Joining David Aaronovitch in the briefing room are:
Sir Paul Lever, former British Ambassador to Germany and author of Berlin Rules: Europe and the German Way
Professor Markus Ziener, Helmut Schmidt Fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States
Daniela Schwarzer, Director of the German Council on Foreign Relations
Sophia Besch, senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform
Producers: Octavia Woodward, Kirsteen Knight and Ben Carter

7,913 Listeners

1,086 Listeners

376 Listeners

863 Listeners

1,067 Listeners

5,576 Listeners

1,808 Listeners

1,729 Listeners

1,952 Listeners

38 Listeners

428 Listeners

73 Listeners

149 Listeners

746 Listeners

141 Listeners

108 Listeners

3,245 Listeners

20 Listeners

779 Listeners

1,010 Listeners

3,858 Listeners

851 Listeners

45 Listeners

48 Listeners