Schaeuble says economic strength will decide Russia conflict

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said on Thursday that economic strength, rather than military might, would ultimately determine the outcome of the West's standoff with Russia over Ukraine.

Speaking at a Brookings Institution event in Washington, Schaeuble described the standoff with Vladimir Putin as a "new systemic conflict" that would be won by the side with greater "soft power" and a stronger economy.