Various politicians criticize former German Chancellor Merkel’s comments on Russia-Ukraine talks, calling them wrong and ignoring warnings about Russian aggression.
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Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated in an interview with Partizán that Poland and the Baltic states did not support negotiations between Russia and the European Union regarding Ukraine because they feared member states could not form a unified position. Margus Tsahkna, Estonian Foreign Minister, strongly criticized this statement as “outrageous” and “wrong,” attributing the cause of Russian aggression to Vladimir Putin’s inability to accept the collapse of the Soviet Union, while also citing Western attempts to negotiate with Putin by disregarding previous decisions regarding the 2008 Georgia war and the 2014 annexation of Crimea. Tsahkna asserted that the true nature of Russian policy was exposed, but most of the West ignored warnings about Russia’s threats. Riihards Kols, an Estonian MP from the European Reformists and Conservatives group, accused Merkel of “historical revisionism” and called for self-reflection regarding her comments in Budapest, stating Europe is paying a price for its illusions while rewarding open Russian aggression with new oil pipelines. Gabrielius Landsbergis, former Lithuanian Foreign Minister, held Merkel responsible for the current situation, arguing that her attempts to justify herself in Budapest instead of admitting mistakes led to Ukrainians fighting on the front lines. Mateusz Morawiecki, former Polish Prime Minister, warned that Merkel was also responsible for the worsening refugee crisis and Russia’s energy dependence on Europe. Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, Poland’s former ambassador to Russia and current EU policy minister, claimed Merkel’s statements only strengthen Russian propaganda. Krišjānis Kariņš, a former Latvian Prime Minister, recalled his discussions with Merkel, noting he constantly warned against dealing with Putin in good faith, yet she seemed convinced the Baltic states were mistaken, expressing surprise that she had not changed her stance despite events in Ukraine and welcoming that the new German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, does not share Merkel’s views.
