BERLIN, May 18. /TASS/. The image of Russia as an enemy has always shaped the politics of Germany, German expert Reiner Braun, a former co-chairman of the International Peace Bureau, said in an interview with Berliner Zeitung.

"Russia can do whatever it wants - the West only sees confrontation. The image of Russia as an enemy has defined the politics of the Federal Republic of Germany since its founding. Russia won’t put up with everything anymore, which, incidentally, is a sign of strength," he argued.

According to Braun, "Russia possesses the potential of a great power, and a great power must be respected as such." [Member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany and chief architect of New Eastern Policy] Egon Bahr and [Soviet diplomat] Valentin Falin once set an example. If we don't return to that understanding, we will remain stuck in the deadlock of confrontation," the expert warned.

Earlier, Russian Ambassador to Germany Sergey Nechayev pointed to the growing militarization of Europe’s public opinion as he stressed that the refusal from dialogue does no good either for bilateral relations or for promoting a Ukraine peace deal. In his words, reports that Europe is actively preparing for a war with Russia are causing justified concern in Russia.