TRIBUNNEWS.COM, BERLIN – Former Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel defended his 2008 call to block Ukraine from joining NATO.
He insisted Moscow would consider the move an open “declaration of war”. Merkel’s statement was delivered at the Berlin theater stage, Tuesday (7/6/2022).
This is the first public statement Angela Merkel since Russia launched a special attack on Ukraine February 24, 2022.
According to Merkel, a peace initiative brokered by Germany in 2014 failed to give Kiev time to prepare politically and militarily to face Russia.
“I don’t have to blame myself for not trying hard enough,” Merkel said in her first major public appearance since stepping down last year.
“Diplomacy is not wrong just because it doesn’t work,” he stressed.
Read also: Olaf Scholz Admits Anti-Russian Sanctions Cause German Economy to Lose
Read also: German energy company agrees to pay for gas according to Russian wishes
Read also: 31 Years of German Reunification: Angela Merkel Calls for East-West Unity
In 2008, the US-led military bloc issued the Bucharest Summit Declaration, agreeing Georgia and Ukraine would eventually become members of NATO.
However, they did not actually carry out the plan due to objections from France and Germany.
“My judgment is quite clear. If the (US et al) action plan comes back, (the Ukraine conflict) will happen more quickly,” Merkel said.
He added that at that time, Ukraine was a country ruled by an oligarchy. “So you can’t just say, okay tomorrow we’re taking them to NATO,” Merkel said.
–
