‘I won’t apologise’: Merkel defends handling of Russia
The Independent|June 09, 2022
Former German chancellor Angela Merkel has said she has “nothing to apologise for” in her handling of Russia during her 16 years in offie. In her first major interview since leaving her post, Ms Merkel denied a suggestion that she and others appeased Russian president Vladimir Putin, which ultimately led to the Ukraine invasion.
MARYAM ZAKIR - HUSSAIN
‘I won’t apologise’: Merkel defends handling of Russia

Speaking at the Berliner Ensemble theatre to German journalist Alexander Osang, she said: “I tried to work toward calamity being averted, and diplomacy was not wrong if it doesn’t succeed. I don’t see that I should say now that it was wrong, and so I won’t apologise.” She called Putin’s invasion “a big mistake on Russia’s part” and said there was “no excuse” for the “brutal” attack, adding that “it is a matter of great sorrow” that her efforts “didn’t succeed” but she said, “I don’t blame myself now for trying”.

This story is from the June 09, 2022 edition of The Independent.

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This story is from the June 09, 2022 edition of The Independent.

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