The Merciless Honesty of War
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
Like no other event, war tests the ability of political leaders to act calmly and rationally. It unrelentingly punishes those who do not bring their ambitions into line with their capabilities. One should start a war only when the vital interests of the state are actually threatened and all non-military means have been exhausted beforehand. Before making the decision to go to war, one must make sure one has complete political support at home and abroad. With his decision to launch a special military operation, Vladimir Putin disregarded all of these principles.
(Osteuropa 1-3/2022, pp. 169–172)