Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who in her first interview after handing over the post she once held, spoke about the war in Ukraine and Russia's behavior - defending its old positions, reports the BBC.

Merkel said that she had nothing to "apologize for" while talking about the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014, when she supported the sanctions that brought peace, Telegrafi reports.

This peace processor, Merkel claims, gave Ukraine time to develop as a nation and strengthen its military.

"I should not blame myself for not trying hard enough.

"I do not find it reasonable to say that it was wrong and I have nothing to apologize for," Merkel said.

She had also opposed Ukraine's membership in NATO in 2008, as she stated in an interview, wanted to prevent escalation with Russia and according to her Ukraine itself was not ready for such a thing.

"It was not Ukraine we know today.

"It was not a stable country, it was gripped by corruption," the former German chancellor added.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose country remained outside NATO despite heavy Western aid to defend itself against the Russian occupiers, described Germany's decision in 2008 as a "wrong assessment."

Under intense pressure to impose tougher sanctions over the occupation, Germany is struggling to reduce its dependence on Russian energy without harming the country's economy.

However, Merkel insists that Europe and Russia are neighbors who can not ignore each other.

"We have to find a way to coexist despite all our differences," Merkel said.

According to Merkel, the invasion was not only "unacceptable, but also a big mistake of Russia".

/ Telegraphy /