Crisis in Ukraine Underscores Opposing Lessons of Cold War

MUNICH — The Cold War is history, but its spirit this weekend stalked the security conference held here each winter for the past 51 years.

Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and Senator John McCain drew very different lessons from the West’s 20th-century showdown with the Soviet Union, as they clashed over whether to arm Kiev’s troops in response to Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine. That disagreement represents one of the sharpest rifts yet over how the allies should respond to the current challenge from Moscow.

Europe is very different from the days when the militaries of NATO and the Soviet bloc stared each other down. But the crisis in Ukraine has reopened familiar differences as to whether the threat of force — in this case, Washington’s readiness to bolster Ukraine’s military against pro-Russian rebels backed by the Kremlin — is more effective than months of so-far failed negotiations.

It is not quite Winston Churchill’s choice of “jaw-jaw” or “war-war.” Everyone agreed that a negotiated solution is the preferred outcome. Secretary of State John Kerry, addressing the conference on Sunday, insisted therefore that the West is united.

The latest updates to the current visual survey of the continuing dispute, with maps and satellite imagery showing rebel and military movement.

But even he said that “we are in the midst of a defining moment” in the trans-Atlantic partnership, and there were differences over tactics as leaders headed into another round of talks this week.

Ms. Merkel, a center-right Christian Democrat, governs in coalition with the Social Democrats, another factor influencing her Ukraine policy, in which the two politicians from opposing camps have so far been able to keep the support of most Germans.

President Petro O. Poroshenko of Ukraine said Sunday that any Minsk meeting should result in a durable and effective cease-fire in his country. European and American leaders expressed hope that their unity, and not their differences, would prevail.

“We have to stick together and we have to negotiate,” Mr. Fabius said, “but not agree to concessions that would undermine the key pillars of European security. It is the time to make a choice.”

Michael R. Gordon contributed reporting.

A version of this article appears in print on February 9, 2015, on page A7 of the New York edition with the headline: Crisis in Ukraine Underscores Opposing Lessons of Cold War. Order Reprints| Today’s Paper|Subscribe

The New York Times