Don't Expect Anti-Russian Ardor from Germany

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is the darling of Russia hawks because of her steadfast insistence on Ukraine-related sanctions against the Kremlin. But if she wins the September election, as seems likely, she may get a foreign minister who openly favors a more accommodating Russia policy. A large part of German society is behind such a pragmatic softening.

Christian Lindner, the charismatic leader of the Free Democratic Party, a small free-market party with a socially liberal bent, has faced relentless press criticism since saying in an Aug. 5 interview that Russia's annexation of Crimea should be considered "a long-term provisional solution." Lindner -- also an advocate of a close relationship with the U.S. -- has been calling for "encapsulating" the Crimea problem to take "positive intermediate steps" and put forward "proposals that would allow [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to correct his policies without losing face."