Former German Chancellor Merkel’s Remarks on Russia Spark Controversy
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s recent comments regarding Russia’s aggressive actions have ignited significant controversy, particularly among Baltic leaders who argue her assessment is misguided. Merkel stated that during her tenure, there was a fear among certain countries that a unified policy toward Russia would not be established, a situation she claims did not materialize. “Then I left office, and then Putin’s aggression began,” she remarked, reports 24brussels.
In direct opposition to Merkel, former Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš responded on Monday, emphasizing that many nations failed to comprehend Russia’s intentions, including Germany and Merkel herself. “I consistently told her that you cannot deal with Putin ‘in good faith,’ but she believed that the Baltic States were wrong,” Kariņš stated, expressing disbelief that Merkel maintains her stance despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Kariņš added, “Putin acts the way he acts, and the only options for the West are either to submit or to resist. It is surprising that the former German chancellor would say something like this today, when it should be obvious to everyone what kind of regime Russia is. I am glad that the new German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, does not share Merkel’s views.”
Echoing this sentiment, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna directly attributed the conflict to Russia, asserting its responsibility for the ongoing war in Ukraine. “Russia’s war against Ukraine is driven by one thing and one thing only: its refusal to accept the Soviet Union’s collapse and its unrelenting imperialist ambitions. Russia alone is to blame for this aggression,” Tsahkna declared in a post on social media platform X.
Merkel’s comments have generated a surge of reactions in Poland, particularly among right-wing lawmakers who criticize the former chancellor’s perspective on the implications of Russian aggression.
