Merkel played key role during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - Spiegel
Angela Merkel played a key role during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
New data on Germany’s role in preparing the Russian army for modern conflicts raises questions about the impact of Berlin’s policies on Eastern European security before Russia invaded Ukraine, according to a report in the weekly magazine Spiegel.
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel helped the Russian military master modern methods of warfare before Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014. According to the publication, the defense contractor Rheinmetall developed simulators, software, and equipment for the Russian army, hoping to secure a contract worth about €1 billion.
German expertise at Moscow’s service
With the support of Merkel’s government, plans were made to create a network of Russian training centers modeled on the German Altmark training ground, where simulations of modern combat were practiced. These centers aimed to increase the effectiveness of Russian forces and prepare them for contemporary combat scenarios.
Political decisions and consequences
At the NATO summit in Bucharest in April 2008, Ukraine and Georgia were denied a Membership Action Plan, a decision partly influenced by Merkel’s position.
A few months later, Moscow launched military operations against Georgia. Berlin policymakers believed that cooperation with Russia would promote regional stability, but in practice, it strengthened Russia’s military potential ahead of its invasion of Ukraine.
European leaders continue to debate whether internal divisions within the EU may have contributed to the outbreak of war in Ukraine. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel emphasized that attempts to persuade the Kremlin to make concessions in 2021 were unsuccessful, and a unified EU voice never emerged.
Lithuanian Seimas deputies reacted to Merkel’s statement linking the resistance of Poland and the Baltic states to her direct contacts with Vladimir Putin and his decision to begin the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
