TAKING STOCK OF THE WAR IN UKRAINE: IMPLICATIONS FOR GERMANY AND THE EU

The 'special military operation' launched by Moscow against Ukraine surprised European decision-makers, despite all warnings and military mobilization since 2021, thus destabilizing the region and the global economy. The military offensive received harsh responses from Western peers, as broad military support for Kyiv and severe economic sanctions were put in place. However, despite the efforts to stop the war, Europe's dependence on cheap Russian energy resources (mainly gas) remains, posing a double challenge: to maintain security stability in European territory and at the same time seek an alternative energy source that, in the short term, meets growing consumer demands. This Policy Brief aims to evaluate the reflexes of the Russian military onslaught against Ukraine and its implications for the EU and its geoeconomic powerhouse, Germany