Prof. Dr. Gabriele Krone-Schmalz · Russia - and what next?

Relations between Russia and the West have frozen over. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, already-strained ties have hit a historic low - and appear irreparable for the foreseeable future. Yet a European peace order that includes Russia remains necessary. The country is part of our continent.

How did we reach this point after the East-West confrontation seemed overcome in the late 1980s? How can the escalation spiral be stopped, what role can diplomacy play, do sanctions help, what about weapons deliveries? And how far is society willing to support Ukraine if it costs its own economic interests and peace? These existential questions demand open, respectful, fact-based debate in a democratic society.

Gabriele Krone-Schmalz analyzes recent developments and cautiously looks ahead. From 1987 to 1991 she was ARD's Russia correspondent, then hosted the ARD cultural programme Kulturweltspiegel until 1997, and from 2011 to 2022 was a professor of television and journalism at Hochschule Iserlohn.