Ex-Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Angela Merkel explained that in 2008 it was against Ukraine’s entry into NATO, since the country was “strongly divided in the field of domestic policy” and had a great influence of the oligarchs. It is reported by TASS.
Merkel made this statement at a meeting with reporters in Berlin, this is the first communication of the former chancellor with the press after she left the position.
Angel Merkel said that Ukraine in 2008 was a” another country “, markedly divided in the field of domestic policy. Russia and then, according to the ex-Chancellor, would try to prevent the country’s entry into the North Atlantic Alliance, which would not have benefited Kyiv. In addition, Merkel noted that at that time the oligarchs had a strong influence in Ukraine, while by now the policy of President Vladimir Zelensky had a positive effect on the fight against corruption.
The former Chancellor said that she tried very hard when she headed the country, to prevent what was happening to Ukraine now, but she did not blame herself for not being able to do it. Merkel also stated that there is no excuse for the brutal actions of Russia, writes the Russian BBC service
Russian invasion of Ukraine was a turning point, Merkel said, she reflects a lot about it and looks at what is happening with despondency.
Merkel also remembered her meeting with Putin in Sochi in 2007 (remembered that the Russian president let the dog into the room, knowing, as is commonly believed that the Chancellor was afraid of dogs). According to Merkel, Putin then told her that the collapse of the USSR was the largest geopolitical disaster, and she answered him that for her, born in East Germany, the collapse of the Soviet Union was the greatest luck in life. Then she realized that they and Putin look at the world completely differently and would not come to an agreement on the value of democracy, Merkel said.
Merkel also did not want to apologize for the course, which many in Germany now criticize how too soft. “So I don’t think that I should say:“ It was wrong, ”and therefore I will not apologize,” she said in an interview with the journalist Der Spiegel.