Why do Merkel and her ministers continue to "flog the dead horse of Minsk2"?

"Oh! what a tangled web we weave

  When first we practice to deceive"

The walls are closing very fast around Donald Trump as more of the truth about the intimate links between himself and his 'Siamese' twin, Vladimir Putin, emerges.

More disturbing for Trump, his eldest children are now also being inextricably ensnared by the tangled web of lies that he has woven around himself.

As reported by Rachel Maddow (full video) yesterday,

" ... whether scrutiny of this president brought on by the Russia investigation [ ] is going to end up turning business and financial dealings, including during the campaign, that could represent serious criminal liability for this president ... for his campaign ... even potentially for his family ..." (MSNBC : 22 August, 2018) (my emphasis)

And whilst Trump's elder children are now facing possible criminal charges, charges from which they cannot be exonerated with a presidential pardon from their father; in a recent interview with Reuters reporters on August 20, 2018 at the White House, Trump stated that,

“I mentioned Crimea [during the Helsinki meeting], sure. I always mention Crimea whenever I mention Ukraine. Putin and I had a very good discussion. It was a very — I think it was a very good discussion for both parties. I mentioned the gas pipeline going to Germany.”
....
“No. I haven’t thought about it [lifting US sanctions against Putin's Russia]. But no, I’m not considering it at all. No. I would consider it if they do something that would be good for us. But I wouldn’t consider it without that.” (Reuters : 21 August, 2018) (my emphasis)

Interestingly, as reported by RFERL,

"Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov (right), said on August 21 the Kremlin welcomed Trump's comments indicating readiness to cooperate with Moscow, but that it would "welcome even more some kind of concrete actions."" (RFERL : 21 August, 2018) (my emphasis)

Now recall that, as reported by Jim Sciutto and Jenna McLaughlin (left),

"The [western intelligence] assessments, based on a broad range of intelligence, indicate that the Kremlin believes the July 16 summit delivered a better outcome than it had expected, but that Moscow is perplexed that Trump is not delivering more Russia-friendly policies in its aftermath" (CNN : 13 August, 2018) (my emphasis)

This 'perplexity' on the part of Putin and his Kremlin 'siloviki' regarding Trump's "lack of concrete action" no doubt refers to the fact that thus far, Trump has not yet lived up to his side of the bargain regarding the lifting of US sanctions against Putin and his Kremlin 'siloviki' for them helping him gain the keys to the White House.

Which, yet again, brings us to the thorny question of the Nord Stream2 pipeline.

In their recent tête-à-tête in Berlin, Merkel and Putin,

" ...  both viewed the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project as a purely commercial venture, despite persistent fire by the U.S. and Ukrainian governments, Peskov said." (CNBC : Sun, 19 Aug 2018) (my emphasis)

Furthermore,

"That's why it is necessary to take measures against possible non-competitive and illegal attacks from the third countries in order to complete this project eventually," [Dmitry Peskov] told reporters shortly before Putin flew back to Russia. It was not immediately clear what such "measures" could entail. (ibid CNBC) (my emphasis)

Even more interesting is the the statement by Ursula von der Leyen, German Defence Minister, that,

"If you look at the gas pipeline ...Germany is an independent country where energy supplies is concerned.." (ibid CNBC) (my emphasis)

And when confronted by the reporter asking,

"... And you don't think this pipeline would compromise security ..." (ibid CNBC),

Ursula von der Leyen  responded,

"No. In our own German interests we have to make sure that this is not the case ... But there are many other things to worry about" (ibid CNBC)

And whilst Merkel and Ursula von der Leyen are both hell bent on ensuring that Nord Stream 2 goes ahead, irrespective of the real security concerns of Ukraine, together with other EU member states, UNIAN reports that,

"Russia's recent actions in the Sea of Azov indicate possible preparations for possible landing operations along Ukraine's coastline in the Sea of Azov and Odesa coast in the Black Sea, according to Oleksandr Khara, deputy chair of the board of the Black Sea Institute of Strategic Studies.
......
Russia's actions in the Sea of Azov with the blocking of Ukrainian vessels show that the war is now also being waged on the sea, Khara wrote in a blog for Obozrevatel." (UNIAN : 23 August, 2018) (my emphasis)

Furthermore, whilst Putin has opened up a new front in his war with Ukraine,

"German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (right) told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper Germany hoped to "create new momentum" in the Minsk peace process" (ibid CNBC) (my emphasis)

Why do Merkel and her ministers continue to "flog the dead horse of Minsk2"?

One need look no further than the ghosts of the Treaty of Rapallo (1920), and the Molotov Ribbentrop Pact (1939) 

As an article in the Economist (2014) also explains,

"WHEN Germans add the word Versteher (one who understands) to a term, they generally mix flattery with irony..... The label is now being attached to so-called Russlandversteher or Putinversteher: members of the elite or intelligentsia who gush with empathy for Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, on talk shows, in journals and at dinner parties." (The Economist : 8 May, 2014)

Maybe .... just maybe .... this unconditional German empathy for Russia and Putin has its roots in that minor German princess, Princess Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst, who became Empress of Russia from 1762 until 1796, Russia's longest-ruling female leader, otherwise known as Catherine the Great.

(to be continued)