Abstract
The author examines the role of the German-Russian relations in a comprehensive context of cooperation between Germany and the Russian Federation. The author is of the opinion that Germany is the most important EU partner of Russia, but mutual relations have deteriorated over recent years. He claims that pushing Russia away from the EU may bring about stronger authoritarian and antidemocratic tendencies in the Kremlin. The European Union needs Russia to be a stabilizing factor in Central Asia, one capable of curbing Islamic radicalism and the imperial ambitions of China.