Zeitenwende: perspectives from Germany and Central Europe

Yet, despite its clear origins in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Zeitenwende quickly expanded in scope. It came to symbolise a broader rethinking of Germany’s place in the world, touching on issues of military spending, energy policy, and relations with both European and global powers. According to the  the interviews the authors conducted, there is no single, unified definition of what Zeitenwende actually means. For some stakeholders, it includes a stronger integration of Eastern European states into the European Union; for others, it is primarily about military reforms; some include the green energy transition into the broader framework of Zeitenwende, while others treat it as a fully independent process. The common thread across all interpretations is that Zeitenwende is not (exclusively) about Ukraine or Russia. Instead, it reflects Germany’s need to recalibrate its policies in response to a shifting global order.

The Zeitenwende has not been uniformly understood or implemented, both within Germany and in its broader European context. While some perceive it as a profound shift, others view it as a continuation of pre-existing policies, albeit under a different guise. This report reflects on the influence of such duality on the region of Central-Eastern Europe (CEE) and investigates the conflicting views on Zeitenwende in Germany/CEE.