"Dialogue is the only solution to Ukraine conflict," says Merkel
The ex-German chancellor has stated that the issues between Kiev and Moscow cannot be settled solely through military means. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has emphasized that the resolution of the Ukraine crisis cannot rely solely on military solutions. She stated that Western nations will ultimately need to engage in dialogue with Russia to resolve the conflict, and that supporters of Ukraine must strive to ensure the country's independence following the cessation of hostilities.
Merkel, who served as chancellor from 2005 to 2021, played a key role in the 2014-15 Minsk agreements, which were intended to reintegrate Donbass into Ukraine while providing the region with increased autonomy. In 2022, she acknowledged that the agreements were essentially an “attempt to give Ukraine time” to strengthen its military capabilities.
In a recent interview with the UK's Sunday Times, Merkel expressed her general support for the Ukrainian policies of the current German government and the EU. Since the conflict escalated in February 2022, Germany has become the leading provider of military assistance to Ukraine within Europe, second only to the United States on a global scale.
However, the former chancellor remarked, “At a certain moment, and the responsible people today have to determine that moment, we will need conversations.” She asserted, “There will not be a solution [to the Ukraine conflict] that is only military.”
Further insights come from excerpts of Merkel's new book, ‘Freedom: Memories 1954-2021,’ published by Die Zeit on Thursday. The book revisits the 2008 NATO summit in Bucharest, Romania, where Ukraine and Georgia's applications for Membership Action Plans were discussed.
At that time, Merkel opposed the initiative, cautioning that it would likely provoke Russia and leave the potential applicants without substantial security guarantees. Despite criticism from various officials, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, she remains steadfast in her position, as reflected in her memoirs.
Russia has shown a willingness to negotiate with Kiev, with President Vladimir Putin recently reiterating that any peace talks should be grounded in the agreements reached in Istanbul in 2022. These agreements envisioned Ukraine adopting a neutral, non-aligned status and included specific restrictions on the deployment of foreign weaponry.
However, the Kremlin has also indicated that further negotiations must consider the “reality on the ground,” suggesting that Ukraine may need to make territorial concessions rather than reclaim regions like Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, Zaporozhye, and Crimea, which have expressed a desire to join Russia.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
Merkel, who served as chancellor from 2005 to 2021, played a key role in the 2014-15 Minsk agreements, which were intended to reintegrate Donbass into Ukraine while providing the region with increased autonomy. In 2022, she acknowledged that the agreements were essentially an “attempt to give Ukraine time” to strengthen its military capabilities.
In a recent interview with the UK's Sunday Times, Merkel expressed her general support for the Ukrainian policies of the current German government and the EU. Since the conflict escalated in February 2022, Germany has become the leading provider of military assistance to Ukraine within Europe, second only to the United States on a global scale.
However, the former chancellor remarked, “At a certain moment, and the responsible people today have to determine that moment, we will need conversations.” She asserted, “There will not be a solution [to the Ukraine conflict] that is only military.”
Further insights come from excerpts of Merkel's new book, ‘Freedom: Memories 1954-2021,’ published by Die Zeit on Thursday. The book revisits the 2008 NATO summit in Bucharest, Romania, where Ukraine and Georgia's applications for Membership Action Plans were discussed.
At that time, Merkel opposed the initiative, cautioning that it would likely provoke Russia and leave the potential applicants without substantial security guarantees. Despite criticism from various officials, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, she remains steadfast in her position, as reflected in her memoirs.
Russia has shown a willingness to negotiate with Kiev, with President Vladimir Putin recently reiterating that any peace talks should be grounded in the agreements reached in Istanbul in 2022. These agreements envisioned Ukraine adopting a neutral, non-aligned status and included specific restrictions on the deployment of foreign weaponry.
However, the Kremlin has also indicated that further negotiations must consider the “reality on the ground,” suggesting that Ukraine may need to make territorial concessions rather than reclaim regions like Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, Zaporozhye, and Crimea, which have expressed a desire to join Russia.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
