Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed admiration for President Volodymyr Zelensky’s bravery in opposing Russian forces during a conference in Bucharest on Tuesday evening. Her remarks were made during the launch of her memoir at the Romanian Athenaeum.
The event featured a public dialogue with Emil Hurezeanu, Romania’s ambassador to Berlin from 2015 to 2021, a period coinciding with Merkel’s leadership in Germany.
Throughout the discussion, Merkel touched on various subjects, including the delayed decision regarding Ukraine’s NATO membership at the upcoming NATO summit in Bucharest, Germany’s energy relationship with Russia, and the war in Ukraine initiated by Vladimir Putin.
Merkel reiterated her admiration for Zelensky’s courage, mentioning that President Joe Biden had offered Zelensky the option to flee Ukraine and seek asylum in the U.S. However, she highlighted that Zelensky chose to remain in his country, stating, “If he had not done this, there would not be a sovereign and independent Ukraine as there is today. And he decided to fight.”
Concerns About American Support
During her address, Merkel expressed confidence that democracy and freedom could still secure a promising future, yet emphasized that Europe must increase its defense spending.
She posed a question to Hurezeanu about which political system guarantees freedom, acknowledging the uncertainties felt by many young people today regarding security. Merkel noted that while the Cold War had its own challenges, it also provided a level of certainty due to nuclear deterrence, whereas current threats lead to questions about the reliability of security promises.
She remarked, “Suddenly, people, especially the youth, are talking about drones and dangers. Americans are no longer on our side, and there are a number of threats, prompting understandable questions about whether we can offer the same security promises that you or your parents had.” Merkel affirmed her belief in democracy as a suitable form for upholding these values but insisted on the need for increased defense spending.
Political Engagement with Putin
In response to Hurezeanu’s inquiry about potential nominations for future political roles, Merkel stated that Putin respects only those with political power, implying that current political leaders must engage in dialogue with him.
“Regarding the federal presidency… it is something absurd. I don’t want to be concerned with that. I have been in politics for 30 years, 16 of which as federal chancellor. I enjoyed it very much, even though it was a challenging role. But now I am very happy to do something else in my life,” she added.
Merkel introduced her memoir, “Freedom: Memories 1954-2021,” co-authored with her former advisor Beate Baumann, set to be published in 2024. The book was translated by Cora Radulian and published by Litera.
Before the discussion, Hurezeanu reflected on Merkel’s legacy in an interview, addressing the contradictions in her foreign policy, particularly the growing dependency on Russian gas during her tenure, which has faced intensified scrutiny following the onset of Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Merkel’s Name Circulated for EU Peace Envoy Role
In recent years, Merkel’s political legacy has been closely scrutinized due to Germany’s increasing reliance on Russian gas. Her previous negotiation experience with both Putin and Zelensky has led to speculation about her potential candidacy for the European Union’s peace envoy position aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict.
Merkel recently stated that her office had not received any official requests regarding such a role. She previously emphasized that only those in power can be credible negotiators, recalling her experiences with Putin following the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014.
“I could negotiate with President Putin only because I had political power; we were heads of government. You need that power. Personally, I would never think of asking a mediator to go to Minsk instead of me to talk to Putin… You have to take control yourself,” Merkel asserted.
The Minsk agreements, negotiated by Merkel and former French President François Hollande in 2014-2015 to halt fighting in eastern Ukraine, ultimately failed to ensure a lasting ceasefire, as violations persisted for years before Russia launched its full-scale war in 2022.
