Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that a year before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, she sought to convene European negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but did not see any opportunity to influence him at the end of her term. 

Merkel said this in an interview with Der Spiegel.

The politician said that together with French President Emmanuel Macron, she planned to hold personal talks with Putin within the framework of the European Council in 2021.

It was Merkel's last summer as head of government.

"The

. In the summer of 2021, after the meeting of the Russian and US presidents Putin and Joe Biden, I and President Macron wanted to try to create a separate format of dialogue with Putin once again within the European Council... But there were also objections that

, because everyone knew that I would have to leave my post in the fall of that year," the ex-chancellor said.

She also recalled her last visit to Moscow in August 2021 and said that she was already powerless to influence Putin, particularly from a possible invasion of Ukraine.

"The feeling was very clear:

. For Putin, only power is important," Merkel said.

In addition, she admitted that she was unsuccessful in solving other foreign policy issues related to Russia.

"Despite the fact that we tried new things again and again, in the end, I

. It is not only about Ukraine. It is about Transnistria and Moldova, Georgia and Abkhazia, Syria and Libya. It is time for a new approach." , said the politician.  

It will be recalled that in June, Merkel gave an interview in which she said that she could not blame herself for her mistakes regarding Russia and Ukraine.

She also called her decision to block Ukraine's approach to NATO in 2008 correct, so as not to provoke Moscow.  

Merkel also allowed a connection between her resignation and Putin's decision to invade Ukraine.

In September, the ex-Prime Minister of Italy, Silvio Berlusconi, said that he is ready, together with Merkel, to become a mediator in negotiations with Putin regarding the war in Ukraine.

However, the President's Office rejected such a proposal.

Read also:

• Merkel said that the Kremlin's threats should not be ignored, and peace in Europe is possible only with the participation of Russia

• Podolyak sharply replied to Merkel about "strong peace" with Russia: "This is pure hypocrisy"

• Sholtz reacted to Johnson's words that Germany hoped for the surrender of Ukraine

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