Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier is Dmitry Medvedev’s worst enemy, yet he probably doesn’t even realize it. As the SPD’s primary foil to Chancellor Angela Merkel, the foreign minister has enthusiastically advocated a Schröderian policy line on Russia, counted upon by the Kremlin to support their positions. This was most recently demonstrated by Steinmeier’s efforts on behalf of Russia to prevent the Membership Action Plans (MAPs) for Ukraine and Georgia to join NATO. He told the Leipziger Volkszeitung that the West “had gone to its limits” already in its relations with Moscow by recognizing Kosovo, and urged that there was “no compelling reason” to further antagonize the fearsome Russians by offering MAP to Ukraine and Georgia at the Bucharest Summit. Germany was shocked and embarrassed – for this was the first time an official deviated from the previous explanation that NATO enlargement should not include these two countries because of domestic political conditions, and was a confession that instead Berlin was simply pandering to Russia. Leaving aside for a moment whether or not NATO enlargement is a strategically desirable move, and leaving aside the contentious Kosovo issue and the legitimate grievances of Serbia, the fact that the Foreign Minister of a leading European Union member so actively acts as an Ambassador for Moscow’s interests – in striking contrast to the principles-based policy of Chancellor Merkel – is extraordinary example of how obsequiousness weakens the position of reformists within the Russian government.