But what are they?
“..incapable of making rational diplomatic decisions..”
These types of statements are inflammatory, and can only harm German interests. They do not cause fear in Moscow, they do not make Putin submit to the chancellor’s demands.
His rhetoric makes it more likely that Russia will ramp *up* its operations, viewing the entire West, especially Germany, as incapable of making rational diplomatic decisions.
This needs to change, very rapidly, for Germany, because if Germany goes down, the rest of the West goes with it.