Merkel always had the stance that trade could improve relations in the long run. With Merkel now gone, Germany is more open to put up a more resistant position

Merkel always had the stance that trade could improve relations in the long run. With Merkel now gone, Germany is more open to put up a more resistant position - https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/08/world/europe/germany-russia-china.html https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/08/world/europe/germany-russ... . The odds are very high ( and definitely how it is now), that the rest of Europe will follow.