Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Lebanese Health Ministry: 1 woman martyred, 11 wounded in Israeli strike on residential apartment in Nabatieh, South Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Four civilians injured in Israeli strike that targeted house in Nabatieh al-Fawqa, South Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launch strikes on regions of al-Mahmoudiyah, al-Khardali
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli aircraft execute series of strikes in Kfar Tibnit, South Lebanon.
Iranian ambassador in Beijing to Al Mayadeen: We hope that Europe and the US give up their illegal actions and authoritarian hegemony.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli shelling targets displaced persons' tent in Al-Mawasi, Khan Younis, casualties were reported
IOF storm Jalazone camp, north of Al Bireh city in the occupied West Bank
Israeli media: A severe incident reported in Gaza some time ago
Israeli media: Military evacuation helicopters are transporting injured soldiers from Khan Younis
Israeli media: A security incident has been reported in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip

Merkel: No point in my mediation to solve Ukraine crisis

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 8 Jun 2022 12:59
2 Min Read

The former German Chancellor reveals that in 2021, she tried to engage Russian President Vladimir Putin in a dialogue with the European Union.

  • x
  • Former German chancellor Angela Merkel
    Former German chancellor Angela Merkel

Former German chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday defended her years-long policy toward Moscow, saying she had "nothing to apologize for."

In her first major interview since stepping down six months ago, Merkel said she had not been naive in her dealings with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Diplomacy isn't wrong just because it hasn't worked," the 67-year-old considered on stage in a Berlin theatre, in an interview broadcast on the Phoenix news channel.

She recalled the German-French efforts to keep the 2014 Minsk peace process for Ukraine alive. "I don't have to blame myself for not trying hard enough," the conservative ex-Chancellor said.

Engaging Putin in dialogue with the EU

Related News

EU plans WTO alternative as Trump escalates tariffs: FT

EU leaders decry Gaza humanitarian crisis as 'catastrophic, abhorrent'

Regarding the war in Ukraine, Merkel believed that she does not see any point in her mediation to resolve the war in Ukraine, adding that Kiev did not ask her to intervene in this matter.

She mentioned that in 2021, she tried to engage Russian President Vladimir Putin in a dialogue with the European Union, whose members did not agree on this issue.

It is noteworthy that on February 25, Merkel issued a public statement for the first time since leaving office, condemning Russia's special military operation in Ukraine.

The veteran leader, who frequently met with Putin during her 16 years in power and championed a commerce-driven, pragmatic approach toward Moscow, said the war had marked a "turning point".

Merkel insisted that the 2014-2015 Minsk peace pacts were at the time seen as the best bet to end the fighting in eastern Ukraine.

It is noteworthy that Germany became hugely reliant on Russian energy imports on Merkel's watch, and she long annoyed Western allies with her backing for the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline that was to double Russian gas deliveries to Germany.

The project was shelved by current Chancellor Olaf Scholz in late February over the war in Ukraine, and Europe's top economy is now joining EU partners in a race to limit their dependence on Russian oil, gas, and coal.

  • Europe
  • Olaf Scholz
  • minsk agreement
  • Russia
  • Germany
  • EU
  • France
  • Kiev
  • Ukraine
  • Nord Stream 2
  • Angela Merkel
  • Vladimir Putin
  • European Union
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iranian worshippers carry their country's flags in a protest to condemn Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, after the Friday prayers ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP)

Iran warns of NPT withdrawal, Strait of Hormuz closure after US attack

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen delivers her speech during the French far-right party national rally near the parliament in Paris, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Politics

US aide proposed funding Le Pen's legal fight, sparking uproar

People whose names were left out in the National Register of Citizens (NRC) draft fill their forms to file appeals near a NRC center on the outskirts of Gauhati, India, Monday, Aug. 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Politics

India accused of illegal Muslim deportations to Bangladesh

Palestinians children mourn over the body of their father, Mohammed Ghaben, who was killed while heading to an aid distribution hub, at the morgue of the Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Wednesday, June 18, 2025. (AP)
Politics

IOF troops admit to killing starving Palestinians: Israeli media

The commander of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit, Brigadier General Mohammad Said Izadi (Illustrated by Mahdi Rtail for Al Mayadeen English)
Politics

Who was Mohammad Said Izadi, head of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit?

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS