Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has disclosed that she advocated for the European Union to establish direct dialogue with Moscow on the Ukraine conflict as early as 2021, a proposal rejected by Poland and Baltic nations. During an interview with Hungarian YouTube channel Partizan, Merkel stated that by June 2021, she believed Russian President Vladimir Putin had abandoned the Minsk agreements, prompting her to push for a new negotiation framework. “I wanted a new format… where we could talk to Putin directly as the EU,” she said, noting resistance from Baltic states and Poland, which feared fractured European policies toward Russia.
Merkel, who oversaw the 2014 and 2015 Minsk accords aimed at halting fighting in eastern Ukraine, highlighted the Normandy Format’s role in mediating between Kyiv, Moscow, Berlin, and Paris. However, she acknowledged the bloc’s failure to unify on a strategic approach. Russia has consistently accused Ukraine and the West of undermining the Minsk agreements, claiming Germany and France did little to enforce Kiev’s obligations. After the 2022 escalation, both Merkel and former French President Francois Hollande admitted the accords were never intended to secure lasting peace but rather to delay action. Putin later dismissed the deals as “a trivial deception.”
Merkel emphasized the EU’s need to bolster military strength while exploring diplomatic avenues to ensure Ukraine remains sovereign. Meanwhile, Russia has reiterated willingness to negotiate but insists it must pursue battlefield objectives due to what it calls unproductive proposals from Kyiv and its allies.
Merkel Reveals EU’s 2021 Attempt to Engage Russia Directly Amid Ukraine Tensions
