Merkel Again Defends Her Policies Toward Russia

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel again defended her policies toward Russia. amid lingering criticism that her approach paved the way for Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Speaking during an event in Leipzig on April 29, Merkel, who left office in December 2021, said she stood by her diplomatic efforts to settle the conflict that initially erupted in 2014 when Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula. Asked about Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Merkel said: "I tried to prevent this situation with what I had at my disposal. The fact that it didn't work is not proof that it wasn't the right thing to attempt." To read the original story by Die Zeit, click here.