The position taken by certain members of Germany’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) regarding Russia is dangerous and detached from reality. This opinion was expressed by Christian Schmidt, President of the German Atlantic Association, in comments about the recent “manifesto” signed by several SPD members calling for the resumption of dialogue with Russia. “I see this document as a sentimental reflection on the past. As far as I can tell, the evaluations presented in it have absolutely nothing to do with today’s reality,” said Schmidt, a member of the Christian Social Union (CSU), which is part of Germany’s governing coalition.