After Selenskyj's criticism: Merkel gets backing - but the CDU leadership doesn't leave her alone

Created: 04/09/2022, 18:49

Then-Chancellor Angela Merkel during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2021. © Sergey Guneev/SNA/Imago

Criticism of Angela Merkel's Russia policy continues, but the CDU leadership is behind her.

A CDU politician still expresses a wish.

Berlin - Angela Merkel's time at the head of the German government is over - her name against the background of Russia policy is still present.

Criticism of their earlier actions comes from Ukraine, for example, from the President himself.

The CDU leadership has now backed the former party leader in the discussion about Merkel's shared responsibility for the Russian attack on Ukraine.

"It would be presumptuous to claim that Angela Merkel is partly to blame for the war in Ukraine.

It is Putin's war against Ukraine and that of his criminal clique in the Kremlin," said CDU General Secretary Mario Czaja in an interview with the German Press Agency in Berlin.

Merkel's policy towards Russia during her 16-year term in office does not burden the new beginning of the party with Friedrich Merz at the helm after the disaster in the federal election.

Merkel's Russia policy: CDU politician expresses wish

The deputy head of the Union parliamentary group in the Bundestag, Johann Wadephul, is hoping for further explanations from the former chancellor.

"I would hope that Angela Merkel would soon find the time and opportunity to speak more deeply about her Russia policy," the CDU politician told the

.

For a long time, he himself "considered their policy essentially correct," said Wadephul.

"I was convinced that the mutual dependence between Russia and Germany would also determine Russia's actions.

I was wrong.” Wadephul had already suggested setting up a commission of inquiry to deal with past mistakes.

Merkel, Putin and Selenskyj: Ex-Chancellor stands by her decision of 2008

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had asked Merkel to travel to Bucha, where hundreds of bodies had been found after Russian troops withdrew.

In the Kiev suburb, Merkel can get an idea of ​​her failed Russia policy.

Zelensky repeatedly accused the former Chancellor of preventing Ukraine from joining NATO in 2008.

On Monday (April 4), Merkel declared that she stood by her decisions in connection with the 2008 NATO summit.

On Wednesday she made it clear that she did not want to make any further public statements about her Russia policy at the moment.

She had strongly condemned the Russian attack on Ukraine in a written statement on February 25 and supported the efforts of her SPD successor, Olaf Scholz, to stop Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Merkel is currently traveling through Italy as a pensioner.

Germany's Russia policy: Merkel has "made it clear what she stands for"

Czaja said: "In the past, the leading figures in politics assessed Russia differently, from today's perspective incorrectly." With a view to the corresponding error admissions by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, he added: "That's why I also have great respect for if incumbent politicians today assess their responsibility differently at that time and also take responsibility for it.”

Merkel is in political retirement, she has taken a clear position against the Russian war and has spoken out in favor of measures against this war.

“In doing so, she also made it clear what she stands for.

That's enough,” said Czaja.