Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she had nothing to apologize for in her past relationships with Russia and its leader, Vladimir Putin. Merkel said: “I don’t have to blame myself for not trying hard enough. I don’t think there is a situation where I should say ‘I was wrong’.”
Merkel, who gave her first comprehensive interview after leaving the Prime Ministry to the German State Television ARD, stated that Russia’s reaction to the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and her support for the sanctions decisions taken afterwards were correct.
Merkel also defended her opposition to Ukraine’s entry into NATO.
During her rule, Merkel was criticized for weakening Germany against Russia due to the economic relations she established with Russia.
The Nord Stream 2 Pipeline, which will bring Russian gas directly to Germany, was built during the Merkel period.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who took over the power from Merkel, suspended the Nord Stream 2 project shortly before Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.
Germany, which is under pressure to impose new sanctions on Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine, is looking for ways to reduce its dependence on Russian natural gas without harming its own economy.
‘**occupation of Ukraine Russia for large a error’**
Angela Merkel said that Europe and Russia are neighbors and it is not possible for them to ignore each other. “We must find a way to live together, despite all our differences,” Merkel said.
Merkel said the invasion of Ukraine was “not only unacceptable but also a huge mistake of Russia”. can’t,” he said.
Saying that the sanctions imposed after Russia’s annexation of Crimea were correct, Merkel also defended Germany’s role in the Minsk peace process, which aimed to stop the conflicts in eastern Ukraine in 2014-2015.
Merkel said that the peace process contributed to Ukraine’s development as a nation and strengthen its army.
‘Ukraine then was not the Ukraine we know now’
Angela Merkel reminded that Ukraine opposed NATO membership in 2008 because Ukraine was not ready enough and with the intention of preventing a possible tension with Russia. “The Ukraine back then was not the Ukraine we know now. There was no stability in the country. Corruption was out in the open,” Merkel said.
Merkel also expressed her deep respect for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and was impressed by the “bold and passionate” struggle of Ukrainians to defend their country.
Zelensky described Germany’s opposition to Ukraine’s NATO membership as “a miscalculation”.