Status: 08.06.2022 4:52 p.m
Former Chancellor Merkel has commented for the first time on her previous Russia policy – not very self-critically, as critics have noted. The performance was not well received by representatives of Ukraine either.
Following the appearance of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, the Ukrainian government showed little enthusiasm for the explanations given about its earlier policy on Russia. It is also incomprehensible why Merkel supported the construction of the German-Russian gas pipeline Nord Stream 2, wrote the Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak on Twitter. Podoljak asked the question: “If Chancellor Merkel always knew that Russia was planning a war and wanted to destroy the EU – why build the Nord Stream 2 pipeline?”.
In fact, Merkel had made such a statement during her appearance in Berlin. At the meeting, the former Chancellor made a detailed public statement on her Russia policy for the first time since she left office in December. She again condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine – but refused an apology for her Russia policy.
Melnyk: “I expected a lot more”
The Ukrainian ambassador in Berlin, Andriy Melnyk, was also disappointed after Merkel’s appearance. He said he expected Merkel to give much more concrete answers. “Because if everything is supposed to have gone so well and no mistakes were made at all, then the question is why we have been dealing with this war of aggression for 105 days,” he told the broadcasters “RTL” and “ntv”. From his point of view, there are “still many unanswered questions”.
In principle, Melnyk welcomed the fact that Merkel publicly took a stand on her Russia policy. There is a need for a “review of Russia policy” and an “open discussion in German society” about it, he said.
CDU divided over Merkel’s Russia policy
During her 16-year chancellorship, Merkel had always relied on dialogue with Moscow and on a close economic partnership. This course is now also being questioned in her party. The new CDU leader and long-time Merkel critic Friedrich Merz has spoken of a “shambles” for all of German foreign and security policy over the past 20 years and has announced that his party will also come to terms with the past.
Deputy CDU chairman Jens Spahn defended Merkel’s Russia policy. He said Merkel had “never succumbed to any illusions” – unlike her predecessor Gerhard Schröder, “he sold himself to the system”.