Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that in the summer of 2021, when she was still the head of the German government, she tried to influence Russian President Vladimir Putin to prevent a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and this development did not come as a surprise to her. She told Der Spiegel about it.
"It was not a surprise. The Minsk agreements were terminated. In the summer of 2021, after the meeting between Presidents Biden and Putin, I wanted to re-establish an independent European format for a discussion with Putin and Emmanuel Macron in the Council of the EU. Some objected, and I no longer had the strength to push it forward, because everyone knew that I was leaving in the fall," Merkel said.
She said that she asked other members of the EU Council why they should not participate, and wanted to get at least some answers from them.
One said, "It's too much for me." The other just shrugged his shoulders," Merkel shared.
According to the ex-chancellor, in August 2021, after a farewell visit to Moscow, she had a very clear feeling that "from the point of view of power politics, she is finished." Merkel also noted that only power is important to Putin.
"I would like that there would be a more peaceful time after my departure, because I was very busy with Ukraine," Merkel said.
She also added that thanks to its position at the Minsk negotiations, Ukraine got time to arm itself.
In addition, Merkel said that since 2014, from the point of view of foreign policy towards Ukraine and other countries, she "has not advanced a millimeter", despite constant efforts to change the situation in various ways.
"Not only regarding Ukraine. Transnistria and Moldova, Georgia and Abkhazia, Syria and Libya. It's time for a new approach. After the annexation of Crimea by Russia, we did everything to prevent further Russian attacks on Ukraine," the ex-chancellor said.