Merkel Breaks Silence to Condemn ‘Barbaric War

Germany’s former chancellor, Angela Merkel, has made her first public speech this year, breaking her silence on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

At an event in Berlin, Mrs. Merkel who stepped down at the end of 2021, backed the work of the German government, the EU, US, Nato and others aimed at finding “an end to this barbaric war.”

“My solidarity goes to Ukraine, attacked and invaded by Russia, and to supporting its right to self-defence.”

Mrs. Merkel has been criticised for trying to engage with Russia’s Vladimir Putin during her 16-year period in office, especially for agreeing to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. The pipeline project was finally suspended by her successor Olaf Scholz, two days before the Russian invasion.

BBC /Shakirat Sadiq