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Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for a diplomatic solution to the war in Ukraine, stressing that military methods alone are not enough. She said this during a speech at an event organised by the Rheinische Post newspaper in Düsseldorf on the evening of 10 March, according to DW.
Merkel on the war in Ukraine: we need diplomacy
The former chancellor accused Vladimir Putin of attacking a sovereign country, noting that his actions not only violated international law but also destroyed the post-war European order.
At the same time, Merkel believes that the conflict cannot be resolved by military means alone.
“Military methods alone will not be enough,” she said, stressing the importance of negotiations.
Merkel expressed hope that Kyiv and Moscow are now closer to ending the war than they were a few weeks ago, when she presented her autobiography Freedom.
“Politics should unite seemingly irreconcilable positions. There cannot be only red lines,” she added.
The former chancellor stressed that the West should do everything possible to ensure Ukraine’s future as an independent state.
“Ukraine must remain sovereign,” Merkel said.
On German politics, defence and Trump
Merkel also commented on the results of the early parliamentary elections in Germany, which were won by the conservative CDU/CSU bloc. The politician, who has been the head of the CDU for 18 years, acknowledged that the “traffic light coalition” (SPD, FDP and Greens) has caused a lot of discontent.
“I’m keeping my fingers crossed for those who are now forming the new government,” she said.
She also called for an increase in the defence budget above 2% of GDP and warned that without unity, “Europe could be wiped out”.
“Sometimes I ask myself: have we been fast enough in increasing military spending?” Merkel admitted.
Regarding US President Donald Trump, she noted that he “knows exactly what is important to him” and is good at staying in the spotlight.
Merkel compared Trump to a real estate agent:
“If I want a certain plot of land, either I will get it or someone else will. But politics doesn’t always work that way,” she explained.
Concluding her speech, Merkel noted that she did not intend to give advice to current politicians:
“I am on the outside. I don’t want to shout coaching comments from the sideline,” she concluded.
