Is Putin's Merkel succumbing to a resurgence of German 'Ostpolitik'?

As the Greek economic crisis spirals out of the control of the Greek government, a government comprised of a majority party Syriza which, in fact, is composed of more than 17+  left-wing, ultra left-wing, and ultra right-wing political groupings, Judy Dempsey (left) writes that,

"The Europeans are barely coping with the security situation presented by Russia’s continuing interference in eastern Ukraine. And the longer the crisis continues in Ukraine, the more likely it is that Germany could wobble" (Carnegie Europe : Thursday, July 9, 2015) (my emphasis)

More significantly, she informs us that,

"There is a longing among some of Germany’s elites to go back to the old days of Ostpolitik, when Germany drove a rapprochement with Russia while Moscow used that relationship to weaken Europe and undermine the transatlantic alliance.

Implicit in that Eastern policy was a suspicion—if not criticism—of the United States, despite Washington being Europe’s security guarantor. " (ibid Judy Dempsey) (my emphasis)

Putinversteher Frank-Walter Steinmeier (right), Merkel's Foreign Minister, 

"...said that the Cold War was over but that “old reflexes [i.e. German Ostpolitik] from that era are still in place, and they appear to be gaining vitality these days.” (ibid Judy Dempsey) (my emphasis)

And if this were not enough, EuroMaidan informs us that,

"According to the Russian business newspaper Vedomosti, German multinational technology giant Siemens entered into a contract to supply modern gas turbine-powered electricity generating plants for Sevastopol and Simferopol in Crimea, the Russia-occupied Ukrainian peninsula, in violation of Western sanctions." (EuroMaidan : 01/07/2015) (my emphasis)

Whilst Siemens has published a statement denying that they have violated western sanctions against Russia, a Google translation of part of the Vedomosti article reads as follows:

"... If you evaluate the deal formally, it is clean. After all, the right to property in Russia and the plant is firm, selling equipment, can not impose any charges on the customer, including a ban on the resale and delivery to other regions, Zaichenko said. In addition, Siemens has iron argument: the company may declare that fully trust the information specified in the contract, he added...." (Vedomosti : 30.06.2015) (my emphasis)

The Siemens statement reads, in part, that,

"... Please understand that we do not disclose details of individual contracts but, to help clarify this particular matter, we can state that we have no reason to believe that the gas turbines mentioned in the news articles are destined for Crimea." (Siemens : 01/07/2015)

Zaichenko, unfortunately, rather contradicts the Siemens statement. He categorically states that,

"the right to property in Russia and the plant is firm, selling equipment, can not impose any charges on the customer, including a ban on the resale and delivery to other regions"

whilst Siemens is trying to hide behind the figleaf of,

"we do not disclose details of individual contracts...... no reason to believe that the gas turbines mentioned in the news articles are destined for Crimea."

The statement of Siemens is a prime example of the resurgence, amongst the elites in Germany, of the Ostpolitik mentality, implemented by Willy Brandt (left, with his GDR Communist counterpart, Willi Stoph) in 1963, and mentioned by Judy Dempsey.

The Putinversteher Frank-Walter Steinmeier has, throughout this ongoing war between Putin and Ukraine, rigidly stuck to his version of Willy Brandt's 'Ostpolitik', as evidenced by his comments at a public event in Brussels organised by Carnegie Europe.

"Steinmeier was also asked to comment on conflicting reports about the military situation in eastern Ukraine, with the NATO military commander General Philip Breedlove saying that the situation is deteriorating, while the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) states that the cease fire is holding.

The German minister did not criticise NATO, but his answer appeared to suggest that he put more stock in the OSCE findings." (EurActiv : 17 Mar 2015)

And while Steimeier truies to believe that the Minsk2 'ceasefire' is holding,

Mustafa Pazarlı informs us that as recently as one day ago,

"Two Ukrainian government soldiers were killed in clashes with pro-Russian separatists in the east of the country, an official said on Wednesday.

In a press conference in Kiev, presidential spokesman Alexander Motuzyanik claimed the separatists had violated the Minsk cease-fire agreement 40 times over a 24-hour period." (Ideonews : Jul 8, 2015)

Meanwhile,

"Representatives from Russia, Ukraine, militant forces and Europe's OSCE watchdog have met in the Belarusian capital Minsk for further talks towards finding a diplomat solution to stem the conflict in east Ukraine.

In a briefing after the talks, OSCE Special Ambassador Martin Sajdik said the decision on pulling out of less than 100 mm caliber weapons may be reached at the next meeting." (Ukraine Today : Jul. 8, 2015)

Even more significantly, Dmitry Zaks informs us that,

"Kiev said Tuesday that Russia had cut off electricity to Ukraine's rebel-run regions in what appears to be another sign that Moscow is losing interest in plans to splinter its neighbour.
...
Ukraine's Energy Minister Volodymyr Demchyshyn said Tuesday that energy-rich Russia had recently also stopped supplying electricity to the militia-run regions of Lugansk and Donetsk because bills were not being paid." (AFP :July 7, 2015) (my emphasis)

Whilst Putin may have cut off electricity to the rebel-held territory, this does not explain away why he is reinforcing eastern Ukraine with yet more Russian soldiers and militrary equipment, as exposed by Dan Lamothe.
 
"A Ukrainian group that backs the government in Kiev on Tuesday published video captured by drone aircraft and said it shows a Russian military encampment in eastern Ukraine, bolstering claims that Moscow has expanded its military actions there." (Washington Post : June 30, 2015) (my emphasis) 

So why, really, has Putin cut off electricity to his proxies and Russian soldiers in eastern Ukraine?

(to be continued)