Merkel defends Russia ties, opposes Ukraine’s NATO membership
New Delhi, Nov 25: Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel in an interview to BBC has defended her controversial policies toward Russia, asserting that her decisions helped preserve peace during her tenure and stave off a potential conflict between Moscow and Kyiv.
In an exclusive interview with the BBC, the former German Chancellor, who led Germany from 2005 to 2021, was speaking on the issue of growing criticism of her approach to Russia and the war in Ukraine, which erupted shortly after she left office.
Merkel’s defence comes as Europe grapples with the brunt of the two-year-long war between Russia and Ukraine and the subsequent re-evaluation of its energy policies, diplomacy, and security strategies.
Merkel, often described as Europe’s de facto leader during her tenure, is now the focus of intense debate over whether her policies emboldened Moscow or delayed inevitable conflict.
“War Would Have Come Sooner Without My Policies”
Merkel in her detailed interview with the BBC argued that her opposition to Ukraine’s NATO membership in 2008 was a deliberate move to prevent war. “It was completely clear to me that President [Vladimir] Putin would not have stood idly by and watched Ukraine join NATO,” she said, emphasising that Kyiv was unprepared for such a move at the time. “We would have seen military conflict even earlier, and it would likely have been worse.”
Her decision, supported by then-French President Nicolas Sarkozy, has drawn sharp criticism from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has called it a “miscalculation” that emboldened Russia. Zelensky and other critics argue that the delay in Ukraine’s NATO integration gave Moscow time to strengthen its geopolitical position.
Under Merkel’s leadership, Germany deepened its reliance on Russian energy, constructing two direct gas pipelines, Nord Stream 1 and 2. Merkel defended the move, citing economic benefits for Germany and the goal of maintaining peaceful ties with Moscow. “I had two motives with the pipelines: German business interests and keeping peaceful links with Russia,” she explained.
Merkel also highlighted her diplomatic efforts to curb Russian aggression, including the Minsk agreements negotiated after Moscow’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. Yet, she acknowledged these initiatives failed to achieve lasting peace.
Merkel in her interview showed concern over Russia’s nuclear rhetoric, describing a threat as “frightening.” She called for global vigilance, stating, “We must do everything possible to prevent the use of nuclear weapons. Thankfully, China has spoken about this, but we cannot be paralyzed by fear.”
Since Merkel departed as chancellor of Germany, there has been an escalation of global tensions. Europe presently faces more challenges from a reorganised Russia, growing China, and continuing conflict in Russia-Ukraine as well as Israel-Palestine amid a divided West. Former US President Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025 looms, bringing uncertainty over NATO’s cohesion and transatlantic relations.
When in the interview she was asked about handling Trump, Merkel offered advice to European leaders: “It’s really important to know your priorities, present them clearly, and not be scared. That was my experience with him.”
As Europe contends with war in Ukraine and global economic pressures, Merkel’s influence endures. Yet, her legacy remains a subject of fierce debate, particularly over her handling of Russia.
