Anger about Merkel's TV appearance: Melnyk sees "strange" statements and "too lenient" handling of Putin
Created: 2022-06-09 04:49
By: Andreas Schmid
In the Berliner Ensemble, former Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) answers a question from the journalist and author Alexander Osang, who interviewed her under the motto "So what is my country?".
© Fabian Sommer/dpa
After a long break, the former chancellor spoke extensively on German television about the Ukraine war.
The live interview in the news ticker to read.
Angela Merkel
back on TV:
The former chancellor is answering critical questions, the big issue being the war in Ukraine.
"You know that he wants to destroy Europe" - the CDU politician chooses clear words about Putin's actions.
Looking back at 2007: Merkel reports a "great dissent" with Vladimir Putin
The news ticker for the conversation
"So what is my country"
to read.
You can read a summary of the most important statements here.
Update from June 8, 4:50 p.m .:
The Ukrainian government is not very convinced of the Merkel interview.
It is still incomprehensible why Merkel supported the construction of the German-Russian gas pipeline Nord Stream 2, wrote the Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak on Twitter on Wednesday.
According to her, she "always knew that Russia was preparing for war" and that President Vladimir Putin wanted to destroy the EU.
Update from June 8, 3:14 p.m .:
Ukraine Ambassador Melnyk adds again.
Unfortunately, in the first interview with Angela Merkel since the change of government six months ago, "not a hint of self-criticism" could be felt, Melnyk told the German Press Agency on Wednesday.
"The ex-Chancellor's statements about the infallibility of her course in Russia and her far too lenient treatment of dictator Putin are disconcerting."
Update from June 8, 1:40 p.m .:
The Ukrainian Ambassador Andriy Melnyk welcomes the fact that former Chancellor Angela Merkel has publicly commented on her Russia policy.
Melnyk told the broadcasters RTL and n-tv on Wednesday that there was a need for a "review of Russia policy" and an "open discussion in society in Germany".
"That's why it was good that the chancellor agreed to take a stand."
However, he expected "a lot more" concrete answers from Merkel, the diplomat said.
"Because if everything is supposed to have gone so well and no mistakes were made at all, then the question is why we have been dealing with this war of aggression for 105 days." From his point of view, there are "still many unanswered questions".
He hopes "that the chancellor and German politicians as a whole will find the opportunity to give honest answers."
Update from June 8, 8:13 a.m .:
The TV interview by Angela Merkel is also on everyone's lips on Wednesday morning after the broadcast.
In the conversation, the ex-chancellor also commented on an attempt to intimidate Vladimir Putin during a visit to Moscow.
Update from June 7th, 9:57 p.m.:
Alexander Osang ends the almost two-hour conversation in the Berliner Ensemble.
The former chancellor received a lot of applause from the audience and seemed visibly relaxed.
Angela Merkel back on TV: respect for Russians who resist
Update from June 7, 9:44 p.m .:
“I think we should see who supports what Putin is doing and who doesn’t support it.
But anyone who doesn't support that shouldn't be treated badly just because they're Russian.
I don't think that's right.
These are people who are losing their homeland and have to leave their homeland.
I have the highest respect for all those who oppose this system.
It's always about the individual person, I can't sum everyone up under one system," emphasizes the 67-year-old with determination.
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Update from June 7th, 9:41 p.m .:
“I now have someone who breaks international law and tramples it underfoot and inflicts great suffering on a people – his own people too, by the way.
The tragedy is actually greater because I also like the country,” admits Angela Merkel when asked about the
compatibility of her passion for Russia and its culture and the current situation
.
Angela Merkel back on TV: Putin's war decision is "catastrophic"
Update from June 7th, 9:30 p.m.:
"My understanding of office is that I will not do anything that the German government would not ask me to do," Merkel replies clearly to another question from the Ukrainian Ambassador Melnyk, whether the 67-year-old with Putin on the phone.
"I don't have the impression that it's of any use at the moment.
Putin made a decision that I consider catastrophic, fatal and - also with regard to Russia - very flawed
.
That's why I don't think there's much to talk about - especially not without talking to Ukraine."
Angela Merkel back on TV: "I want Ukraine to do well"
Update from June 7th, 9:23 p.m.:
“I want Ukraine to come out well,” the former chancellor explains emotionally.
"It was perfectly clear to me that we are not dealing with someone here who wishes us well
," the Chancellor reported of her impressions with Vladimir Putin after the annexation of Crimea.
"Even so, I can't get rid of him.
Now it is very, very important that the European Union sticks together.
It's a very rational relationship where it's really about a competition of socio-political ideas."
Update from June 7, 9:19 p.m .:
The conversation is now turning to the Bundeswehr during Angela Merkel’s tenure.
"Abolishing conscription, I still stand by that today," emphasizes the former chancellor.
Angela Merkel back on TV: Putin wants to "destroy Europe"
Update from June 7th, 9:10 p.m .:
Now it is about the annexation of Crimea by Russia and Merkel is asked whether Putin is predictable.
You have to listen carefully, said the former chancellor.
Doing more after the incident in Crimea was not a majority option at the time, she explains.
But you didn't do anything either.
After all, Russia was kicked out of the G8 round, for example.
Ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) rejects allegations of naivety in dealing with Russian President Vladimir Putin and then says:
“Ultimately, Ukraine is also a geopolitical hostage of the West. Putin's hatred, Putin's enmity goes against the Western, democratic model. I remember very well how I often spoke to people and said, 'You know that he wants to destroy Europe. He wants to destroy the European Union because he sees it as a precursor to NATO.”
Update from June 7, 9:04 p.m .:
“Diplomacy, if it doesn’t work, wasn’t necessarily wrong.
I will not apologize for that
and I don't know what would have been gained if Putin had just carried on in 2014 and nobody had done anything."
Angela Merkel back on TV: Clear answer to Ambassador Melnyk's question
Update from June 7th, 9:01 p.m.:
"I don't think that's right," explains Merkel with clear words to the question submitted by the Ukrainian ambassador
Andriy Melnyk, who accuses Merkel of having opened the gates for the Russian attack with her appeasement policy.
“I believe that if nothing had happened in 2014 or early 2015, Putin could have done a lot of damage.
These seven years were very, very important for Ukraine's development,
" the 67-year-old says instead.
Update from June 7th, 8:55 p.m.:
"I'm no longer the Chancellor, I'm off duty," emphasizes the former Chancellor when asked about her recent vacation in Italy.
She had expected criticism in advance, such as that from the Ukrainian ambassador Andriy Melnyk, who said she should rather visit Bucha.
Angela Merkel back on TV: "Great sadness" over failed talks with Russia
Update from June 7, 8:45 p.m .:
The independence of Kosovo, the installation of the missile shield by US President George W. Bush and NATO’s membership action plan to include Ukraine have massively disappointed Russian President Putin, reports the Chancellor .
She didn't want to further provoke Putin's anger and patience, which is why she contradicted the wishes of the Ukrainians and the USA and voted against the Membership Action Plan.
Update from June 7th, 8:42 p.m.:
"It is a great sadness that it did not work," explains Merkel about the talks with Russia.
"But I don't blame myself now for trying."
Angela Merkel back on TV: Clear, strong words against the Ukraine war - "great dissent" with Putin
Update from June 7, 8:37 p.m .:
“It is an objective breach of all international law regulations and everything that allows us to live together in peace in Europe at all.
If we start to go through the centuries and say, 'which territory belongs to whom', then we'll only have war - that's absolutely not possible!"
Update from June 7, 8:33 p.m .:
“This attack on Ukraine finds no justification whatsoever.
This is a brutal attack that violates international law, for which there is no excuse,"
the ex-Chancellor emphasized.
She gets a lot of applause from the audience for this statement.
Update from June 7th, 8:31 p.m.:
“For him,
the collapse of the Soviet Union was the worst thing of the 20th century
.
I said to him, 'you know, for me that was the lucky circumstance of my life: I was able to be free and then do what I enjoy and enjoy.'
It was already clear that there was
a great deal of dissent
," reports Merkel of a conversation with Vladimir Putin in 2007. "In all these years it has not been possible to end the Cold War."
Angela Merkel back on TV: Ukraine conflict preoccupies former chancellor early on
Update from June 7, 8:26 p.m.:
“I was at peace with myself that the transition of government went very well,” explains the former Chancellor of the successful transition from her to Olaf Scholz’s government.
However, she still wonders whether she could have done more to prepare the new federal government for the crisis in Ukraine.
Update from June 7th, 8:24 p.m.:
“It was already clear that what was happening had to be taken very, very seriously,” Merkel describes her impressions of the days before the outbreak of war in Ukraine.
"It was already clear to me that something bad was going to happen," the 67-year-old continues.
Even during her farewell visit to Moscow, the ex-Chancellor could feel the looming conflict.
Angela Merkel back on TV: five weeks off at the Baltic Sea
Update from June 7, 8:17 p.m .:
At the end of her chancellorship, the 67-year-old caused a few small tremors in public for discussions.
The first incident happened during a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
"The death of my mother affected me greatly.
On top of that, I hadn't drunk much," admits Merkel.
Update from June 7th, 8:16 p.m .:
How did the former Chancellor organize her free time after leaving the Chancellery?
"I spent five weeks on the Baltic Sea," admits Merkel smugly.
"I was a bit afraid that I would get bored." In addition to reading, the 67-year-old primarily relaxed and listened to audio books.
Angela Merkel back on TV: "I had imagined the time after my term differently"
Update from June 7th, 8:12 p.m.:
“All in all, I had imagined the time after my term of office to be different,” reports Merkel right at the beginning when asked how she is doing.
"February 24th was a turning point and of course it also concerns me a lot." Despite her time out from politics, she is depressed at the current time, the 67-year-old makes it clear.
Update from June 7, 8:10 p.m.:
“Behind this curtain, citizen Angela Merkel is waiting
,” emphasizes Osang after the end of his statement.
The ex-Chancellor entered the stage almost shyly and sat down with the journalist on the prepared armchairs.
Update from June 7th, 8 p.m.:
It starts in the Berliner Ensemble.
The journalist Alexander Osang from Spiegel opens the evening with a short speech.
Update from June 7, 7:10 p.m .:
In about an hour the time has come: Ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel will comment on the major political issues of the present for the first time after leaving the Chancellery as part of the program “So where is my country”.
A special focus will be on the war in Ukraine and the failings of German Russia policy.
The 67-year-old actively shaped these 16 years as Chancellor - a large part of her tenure overlapped with that of Vladimir Putin.
War in Ukraine: Merkel on TV – focus on Russia policy during her term of office
Update from June 7th, 6:02 p.m.:
The first major and quite political appearance by ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel in connection with the Ukraine war is eagerly awaited.
Because of Germany's high energy-related dependence on Russia, many criticized Merkel's policies.
Diplomacy expert Prof. Daniela Schwarzer now told the Tagesschau that in the Merkel era Russia's "aggression potential and the will to expand imperialist power" were underestimated.
So far, Merkel has remained silent on such allegations.
Apparently that will change this evening.
First report from June 7th:
Berlin – silence over.
Angela Merkel will speak in detail about the Ukraine war for the first time on Tuesday.
It will be former Chancellor Merkel's first major public appearance since she left office on December 8.
Ukraine war: Merkel live on German TV for the first time since withdrawal
According to the invitation, Merkel will address “the challenging issues of our time” in conversation with the journalist Alexander Osang.
Osang has portrayed Merkel several times.
The event entitled “So what is my country” is being organized by the Aufbau Verlag and the Berliner Ensemble.
The television station Phoenix broadcasts from 8 p.m.
A picture from another era: Russia's President Vladimir Putin (left) with former Chancellor Angela Merkel and former US President George W. Bush at the G8 summit in Heiligendamm in 2007. © REGIERUNGonline/Plambeck /AFP
Merkel spoke for the first time about the Ukraine war last week.
During a laudation in Berlin, Merkel stressed that she did not want to interfere in the work of the current federal government.
However, the Russian invasion was a "barbaric war of aggression" that marked a blatant break in the history of Europe after the Second World War.
Ukraine war: What does Merkel say about her Russia policy?
But what does the former chancellor say about her own Russia policy?
After all, the CDU politician didn't do everything right.
During Merkel's term of office from 2005 to 2021, the federal government laid the foundation for energy policy dependence on Russia.
To a certain extent, Nord Stream 2 was also a Merkel project.
The native of Hamburg also demonstratively sought to close ranks with Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin.
So will the 67-year-old distance herself from her Russia policy?