The article explores the change in the use of political tools by Germany in its
relations with Russia since 2014. Participating in the Western attempts to ensure diplomatic
isolation of Russia, Germany at the same time strives to use the elements of «soft
power» in its direct relations with Moscow, such as telephone contacts, the «Normandy
format» and meetings on the margin of major international conferences. Special attention
is paid to the factor of the restoration of interstate consultations at the highest level (since
2017), which are organized in Sochi.