The chief strategist for Europe’s economic war against Russia isn't much interested in military posturing. His uniform: gray sneakers and a blue business suit. His command center: a nondescript office on the 13th floor of the European Commission’s headquarters in Brussels with a conference table, houseplant and a cluttered display cabinet.
And if you ask him if he feels he’s the commander-in-chief in the EU conflict with Moscow, you're likely a dismissive wave of the hand in response. "That’s not how the EU works," he says. "My job is to probe and then work out compromises."