Bismarck's great-grandson urged Germany and the EU to mend relations with Russia

Germany and the European Union (EU) should follow the example of the United States and establish a dialogue with Russia to normalize relations, Alexander von Bismarck, the great-grandson of the first chancellor of the German Empire Otto von Bismarck, told Izvestia on 21 February.

He noted that Washington has already moved closer to Moscow, while the EU is in a "state of shock" and does not know what to do. Von Bismarck expressed the view that Germany could set an example to Europe on how to "put diplomacy first" and urge all sides to negotiate.

"I believe that Germany, especially Germany, could be the best example of how to put diplomacy first and say, 'Let's all sit down at the negotiating table,'" von Bismarck said.

There are politicians in the FRG capable of reviving dialogue with Russia, but they dare not come to the forefront now for fear of marginalization and accusations of "understanding Russian President Vladimir Putin," he added.

Also, the great grandson of the first chancellor of the German Empire pointed out that it would be impossible for the leadership of the European Commission headed by Ursula von der Leyen to establish relations with Russia. In this regard, "very difficult times" await the EU, given the positions of Hungary and Slovakia, which are ready to extend their hand to Russia.

According to von Bismarck, Germany and Europe urgently need "people, personalities who are ready to talk to everyone" to restore normal relations that existed between Germany and Russia in the past 30 years.

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Earlier, on February 19, French President Emmanuel Macron said he was ready to hold talks with Putin. At the same time, Ruslan Andreev, a political consultant and expert at the Polylog Group, told Izvestiya that the French leader was trying to become part of the process of settling the Ukrainian crisis with his statements.