Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel Defends Russia Policy and 2008 Ukraine NATO Stance

Angela Merkel, the former German Chancellor, informed the BBC that her gas agreements with Russia were aimed at assisting German businesses and maintaining peaceful relations with Moscow. She further asserted that the conflict with Ukraine would have commenced sooner had she not prevented Kyiv’s accession to NATO in 2008. Angela Merkel served as Germany’s leader for 16 years. Her tenure encompassed the financial crisis, the 2015 migrant crisis, and notably, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2014. Her actions have prompted questions, including whether she was excessively lenient towards Moscow, too slow in assisting Kyiv, or if the current conflict would be occurring had she not prevented Ukraine’s NATO membership in 2008. During her interview with the BBC in Berlin, Mrs. Merkel strongly defended her period as Chancellor. She stated her conviction that the war in Ukraine would have commenced earlier and potentially been more severe, had Kyiv initiated the process of joining NATO in 2008. She quoted, “We would have seen military conflict even earlier. It was completely clear to me that President Putin would not have stood idly by and watched Ukraine join Nato.” She added, “And back then, Ukraine as a country would certainly not have been as prepared as it was in February 2022.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, however, holds a differing view. He characterized Mrs. Merkel’s NATO decision, which then-French President Nicolas Sarkozy supported, as a distinct “miscalculation” that empowered Russia. In an uncommon interview since her departure from politics three years prior, Mrs. Merkel conveyed apprehension regarding Vladimir Putin’s reissued threats of deploying nuclear weapons. The two leaders had developed a close acquaintance over two decades. The former German Chancellor stated, “We must do everything possible to prevent the use of nuclear weapons.” She continued, “Thankfully, China also spoke about this a while back. We shouldn’t be paralysed by fear, but we must also acknowledge that Russia is the biggest, or alongside the US, one of the two biggest nuclear powers in the world.” She concluded, “The potential is frightening.” Although she maintained high popularity ratings for much of her tenure, Mrs. Merkel now finds herself in a defensive position. She has recently released her memoir, *Freedom*, with its publication timing noted as significant. She claims to have utilized all available efforts to foster peaceful cooperation with Russia. However, Mr. Putin initiated his full-scale invasion of Ukraine merely months after her departure from office. This event led to a comprehensive re-evaluation across Europe of energy policies, diplomatic approaches with Russia, and migration policies that had been established during Mrs. Merkel’s leadership. Leading Europe’s largest economy, she was, according to former Italian premier Matteo Renzi, the de-facto leader of Europe, described as “the boss of the European Union.” Renzi recounted, “Do you remember when [former US Secretary of State] Henry Kissinger used to say ‘what is the telephone number of Europe?’,” adding, “My answer was: clearly, the mobile number of Angela Merkel.” He further stated that when assessing Merkel’s legacy, particularly concerning Russia and other areas, it is crucial to consider the prevailing norms of that era. He remarked, “One cannot attack Angela for the relations with Russia.” He elaborated, “In 2005, 2006 [they] were a goal of everyone in Europe, not only a goal of Angela Merkel.” During Mrs. Merkel’s leadership, Germany and its energy-intensive major industries developed a reliance on Moscow. Germany constructed two gas pipelines with direct connections to Russia. President Zelensky characterized that inexpensive gas as a geopolitical instrument wielded by the Kremlin. Mrs. Merkel informed the BBC that her rationale for the pipelines encompassed two objectives: German commercial interests and the preservation of peaceful ties with Russia. Other EU and NATO member states in Eastern Europe expressed strong opposition to her stance. Radoslaw Fogiel, a Polish MP, asserted that German funds from gas purchases contributed to Russia’s war chest, which was then utilized to finance the invasion of Ukraine. Mrs. Merkel maintains that she endeavored to restrain Russian aggressions against Ukraine through diplomatic efforts and negotiations, acknowledging that these ultimately proved unsuccessful. Furthermore, German industry has been disproportionately affected by sanctions targeting Russian energy. Compelled to seek alternative suppliers, the nation now procures costly LNG, with businesses reporting severe financial strain due to these expenses. Mrs. Merkel stated that a new phase in Europe’s relationship with Russia “regrettably” commenced after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On Monday, defense ministers representing the UK, France, Germany, Poland, and Italy are scheduled to convene to address the worsening conditions on Ukraine’s frontlines. Ms. Merkel, aged 70, is now also compelled to defend her legacy concerning other policy domains. The 2015 migration crisis, during which she notably allowed over a million asylum seekers into Germany, is arguably considered the defining event of her chancellorship. This policy drew both strong criticism and praise. US President Barack Obama commended her as a courageous and ethical leader. However, critics attributed to her the revitalization of the then-nearly obsolete far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The AfD currently ranks solidly in second place in German public opinion surveys, preceding a snap general election scheduled for early next year. The party’s primary political platform is a robust anti-migrant stance. Angela Merkel acknowledged the significant advancements made by the AfD, yet she offered no apologies for her political