The European Union has wholly failed to coordinate a European economic strategy that minimises dependence on Russia.
Liberal commentators can no longer use the former Chancellor as a stick with which to beat British Prime Ministers.
Schröder and Merkel long insisted Putin was a trustworthy partner, but Germany under Scholz has now been forced to take the side of freedom.
NATO has to accept that the Germans will never voluntarily take part in another war against the Russians.
It is no longer possible to believe that one can sup with Putin provided one’s spoon is as long as the Nordstream 2 pipeline.
The front-runner to succeed Merkel has perfected the art of making not having a row, indeed not making a decision, sound reasonable.
To protect those in fuel poverty, some of the revenue from the gas carbon charge could be given back as a carbon cheque to vulnerable households.