Reasons and consequences of the changes in Germanys policy towards Russia in the second decade of the 21st century

The article addresses the important problem of showing the premises for changes and consequences in Germany's policy towards Russia in the second decade of the 21st century. These include the following problems: a) the important determinants of Germany's policy towards Russia, b) its main three development phases in 2009/2010-2013, 2013-2017 and 2017/2018-2019 c) the international challenges of Germany's policy towards Russia, with particular emphasis on the role of the ruling teams in both countries headed by Chancellor A. Merkel and President W. Putin. The main thesis of the article is: changes in Germany's policy vis­‍‑à­‍‑vis Russia resulted chiefly from the gradual transition of Putin's team to confrontation with the USA, NATO and the EU since 2008/2009, which culminated in the annexation of the Crimea by the Kremlin - as well as the support of pro­‍‑Russian separatists in Donbas (2014). Germany together with France played an active role in attempts to restore peace in Donbas (Minsk II Agreement), which, however, did not bring peace, but merely "froze the Ukrainian conflict" until 2019. Germany has been involved in both developing EU sanctions against Russia, but since 2015/2016, it has again broadened and expanded its cooperation with Russia, which in turn collaborates closely with the PRC. The policy of America First by President D. Trump in 2018-2019, primarily aimed at weakening the growth of the economic and political position and the global significance of the PRC, indirectly also affects Germany's strong trade and economic ties with China. This puts Germany facing a number of new challenges in its policy towards Russia in the context of Beijing and Moscow's involvement in building an anti­‍‑Western multipolar order, which is aimed at weakening the US dominance.