Germany’s reputation for decisive leadership is in tatters when Europe needs it most | Simon Tisdall

Olaf Scholz's endless dithering over Ukraine is playing into Putin's hands

National stereotypes are unfair, insulting - and strangely reassuring. It's somehow good to know in an unpredictable, fast-changing world that Italians may be relied upon to be melodramatic, the French rude, the Americans loud and the English drunk. When nations act out of character, and refuse to conform to type, it feels a little disconcerting.

This seems to be what's happening in Germany today as Europe looks on, perplexed. What has become of that hackneyed Teutonic efficiency, decisiveness, reliability and steely-eyed determination? The past victors of countless poolside deckchair skirmishes now flirt with chaos in ways that make Westeros look wellordered.