Ukraine aide hits out at Merkel defence of Russia policy

• Mykhaylo criticizes Merkel for deepening Europe’s reliance on Russian energy.
• Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a “watershed moment”.
• Merkel’s successor has pledged to invest $107 billion to modernize military.

Ukraine criticized former German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s comments on Wednesday, saying she was not naive in her dealings with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

During her 16 years in power, the veteran leader met with Putin frequently and advocated for a business-driven, pragmatic approach toward Moscow.

Merkel said in her first major interview since stepping down six months ago that she had “nothing to apologize for” and that Moscow’s February 24 invasion was a “watershed moment.”

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhaylo Podolyak responded Thursday by criticizing Merkel for deepening Europe’s reliance on Russian energy.

“If Chancellor Merkel always knew that Russia was planning a war and Putin’s goal is to destroy the EU, then why would (Germany) build the Nord Stream 2 (pipeline),” he wrote on Twitter, referring to the now-scuppered gas pipeline connecting Russia with Germany.

Podolyak said Merkel had “shoved” Europe towards increased dependency on Russian energy supplies and asked: “Why does Germany have to fix this mistake now?”

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

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The project was shelved by current Chancellor Olaf Scholz in late February over Russia’s aggression, and Europe’s top economy is now joining EU partners in a race to wean itself off Russian oil, gas and coal.

In another major policy reversal, Scholz has pledged to invest 100 billion euros ($107 billion) in modernizing Germany’s military, seen as chronically underfunded during the Merkel era.

The retired ex-chancellor said there was “no justification whatsoever” for the “brutal” and illegal war of aggression, adding that Putin had made “a big mistake”.

“He wants to destroy Europe,” she warned, during the interview on stage in a Berlin theatre.

“It’s very important for the European Union to stick together now,” she said, urging support for her successor’s decisions. Strength was “the only language Putin understands”, she added.

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