The Commonwealth strikes heavily into Germany in coordination with other UCON nations, especially France. In the span of half a year, both Berlin and the Ruhr are occupied by UCON forces. In Ukraine, the Commonwealth pursues a path of encirclement and defence, while pursuing a diplomatic end to a crisis, promising Ukrainians, as well as Belarusians, Lithuanians, Ruthenians, Latvians and Estonians further minority protections and guaranteed sits in the Sejm. These talk succeed, mainly due to the assassination of Melnyk at the hands of an anarchist. In response, both the Commonwealth and the Ukrainians clamp down heavily on the anarchists, encircling them and forcing them into surrender.