Merkel: Putin's remarks should be taken seriously, this is not a policy of weakness or appeasement

  [Global Times Comprehensive Report] According to German ZDF TV and Russia Today TV, on the 27th local time, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned when attending the opening ceremony of the Helmut Kohl Foundation that Russian President Vladimir Putin should be arrested. Considered a serious conversation partner.

Merkel said that taking Putin's rhetoric seriously was not a policy of weakness or appeasement, but a politically sensible gesture that helped create new leeway.

  Merkel said that if Kohl was asked to deal with Ukraine, he would both protect "Ukraine's sovereign integrity" and consider Ukraine's future and how to develop relations with Russia after the conflict ends.

RT said that Merkel made a rare public speech to warn the outside world that Putin's speech should not be ignored, and she apparently responded to Putin's speech last week.

Putin said at the time that if Russia's territorial integrity is threatened, then Russia will take "all means to protect Russia and the Russian people."

  Influenced Putin's decision to take special military action against Ukraine in February this year.

Merkel, a former German chancellor for 16 years, developed a good working relationship with Putin and has been criticized for it.

(Evan)