Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that planning “long-term pan-European security architecture – including Russia” was necessary, in a speech she delivered where she noted the “profound turning point” that February 24, 2022, marked dubbing it one of the “biggest violation of the principles of international law in Europe since World War II”, referring to the Russian attack on Ukraine.

Speaking at an event to mark 1,110 years of Goslar, in Lower Saxony, Mrs. Merkel, although clarifying that she was not commenting on the policy of the current federal government, came out for the second time in a few days in favour of not excluding Russia from a future relationship with Europe. “February 24, 2022 marks a profound turning point. Furthermore, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine constitutes the biggest violation of the principles of international law in Europe since World War II. But work must be done on a pan-European security architecture – including Russia, even if this would require great courage,” said Mrs. Merkel, admitting at the same time that “today this goal may seem as unrealistic to us as it did to Adenauerin 1950 in Goslar the reunification of Germany”.

Her first intervention provoked the reaction of the Ukrainian ambassador

A few days ago, Mrs. Merkel, speaking at the opening of the “Helmut Kohl” foundation, said that if Helmut Kohl were chancellor today, he would do everything to protect Ukraine, but he would also do the almost unthinkable, he would think about the ‘next day’ that relations with Russia can be restored again. Her statement prompted a reaction from outgoing Ukrainian ambassador to Berlin Andriy Melnyk, who commented: “It’s hard to believe: the former chancellor, who enabled Moscow’s aggression against the Ukrainians with her perennial pro- Putin philosophy, is shamelessly philosophising about how relations with Russia can be restored.”

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