Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who retired last December, appeared at a talk event on the 7th, stating that Russia's military invasion of Ukraine "has no justification. It is a brutal invasion that violates international law." , Strongly blamed.

Former Chancellor Angela Merkel, who retired last December after leading Germany for 16 years, appeared at a talk event in the capital Berlin on the 7th.



In this, Merkel strongly condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine, saying, "There is no justification. It is a brutal invasion that violates international law."



And eight years ago, he said that he could not prevent the invasion while talking with Russian President Vladimir Putin who unilaterally annexed Crimea. "We couldn't create a security framework," he said. "It's not a mistake if diplomacy fails," he said, recognizing that his response was not a mistake.



Since Merkel had hardly spoken in public after his retirement, this was the first time for him to make his remarks widely, and many spectators visited the venue and it was broadcast live on TV. It became a form that shows the high level of interest.

Former Prime Minister Merkel and President Putin

Former Prime Minister Merkel, who grew up in the former East Germany, is known for speaking Russian fluently, and President Putin was dispatched to the former East Germany's Dresden in the 1980s when he was a member of the former Soviet KGB = National Security Board. It is said that he is fluent in German.



The two were said to have been able to interact in the other's native language, and President Putin had talks with former Prime Minister Merkel over regional issues such as Ukraine and international affairs for about 16 years, including his time as Prime Minister. I've piled it up.



In 2007, at a summit meeting in Sochi, southern Russia, President Putin was told that he brought his large black dog in front of former Prime Minister Merkel, who is not very good at dogs. It is also believed that Mr. Merkel tried to see how he would react.



In addition, Russia's merger with Crimea and the battle in eastern Ukraine in 2014 deepened the conflict between Russia and the West, but Merkel also consulted with Putin and mediated the ceasefire agreement.



Regarding the situation in Syria in Ukraine and the Middle East, and human rights issues against Russia's dissidents, the two have a tough exchange, but Mr Putin seems to have left Merkel at a glance, Mr. Merkel. At the summit meeting in August of last year (2021), when he last visited Moscow during his tenure, he handed over a bouquet and aimed at it.



And at a joint press conference after the meeting, "Merkel has led Germany for 16 years. I respect him as one of the most prestigious leaders in Europe and in the world. In Merkel and Russia. It's always nice to meet you. "



On the other hand, following the military invasion of Ukraine by Russia, there is widespread view that in Germany, energy policies that depend on Russia, such as the plan for the new gas pipeline "Nord Stream 2", may have been wrong. The media is negative about Merkel's partnership with Putin.