Advertisement

Germany's Merkel calls Russian invasion 'turning point' for Europe

AFP
AFP - [email protected]
Germany's Merkel calls Russian invasion 'turning point' for Europe
A screenshot from a new documentary about Angela Merkel. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/ARTE | --

German former chancellor Angela Merkel, whose conciliatory policies toward the Kremlin while in office have come under fire, on Friday condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Advertisement

Merkel, who left politics in December after 16 years at the helm of Europe's top economy, said she was watching the "attack on the territorial integrity and sovereignty" of Ukraine "with great concern and sympathy".

"Russia's war of aggression marks a profound turning point in European history after the end of the Cold War," she said in a statement.

Merkel said there was "no justification" for this "blatant violation of international law" which she "condemned in the strongest terms".

She offered her "solidarity" to the people and government of Ukraine and her "full support" to her successor, Olaf Scholz, in his efforts with Western partners to "stop President (Vladimir) Putin as quickly as possible".

Merkel's decision to maintain close diplomatic and economic ties with Russia despite years of provocations has been criticised as "naive" in recent days as Putin has laid bare his intentions in Ukraine.

Scholz this week announced plans to halt the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project to bring Russian natural gas to Germany as a sanction against Moscow.

READ ALSO: OPINION: Germany has scuppered Nord Stream 2 but there are questions left to answer

Advertisement

Merkel had long championed the project as crucial to Germany's energy strategy as it phases out nuclear power and coal and gradually builds up its supply from renewables.

Her own predecessor as chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, has worked since leaving office in 2005 as a lobbyist for the Russian energy sector -- a target of fierce criticism in Berlin.

He criticised Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Thursday as unjustified but called for maintaining "political, economic and civil society ties" with Moscow.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: How the Ukraine crisis could impact Germany

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also