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Baerbock’s remarks on tanks for Ukraine evidence of premeditated war against Russia — MFA

Maria Zakharova quoted the German foreign minister who acknowledged that Europe should do more for Ukraine' defense, in particular, concerning tanks

MOSCOW, January 25. /TASS/. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock’s statements about sending tanks to Ukraine prove that the war on Russia was premeditated, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on her Telegram channel on Wednesday.

The diplomat quoted the German foreign minister who acknowledged that Europe should do more for Ukraine' defense, in particular, concerning tanks. According to Baerbock, the most important and crucial thing is that European countries have to "work together and not play the ‘blame’ game in Europe, as they are "waging war against Russia, not against each other."

"If the revelations [of former German Chancellor Angela] Merkel that they were reinforcing Ukraine and were not relying on the Minsk agreements are added to this, a premeditated war against Russia is implied here. And do not say afterwards that ‘you didn’t hear it’," Zakharova said.

In December 2022, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who acted as a mediator at the Minsk talks, said in an interview with the German weekly Die Zeit that the Minsk agreements were an attempt to buy time for Ukraine to become stronger. She argued that it was clear to everyone that the conflict was frozen and the problem remained unresolved, but in this way Ukraine gained invaluable time. Russian President Vladimir Putin later said that he had found Merkel’s confessions concerning the Minsk agreements totally unexpected and disappointing.

Former French President Francois Hollande, who took part in negotiating the Minsk accords in 2015, confirmed Merkel’s comments that these agreements were needed to give Kiev a respite and to ensure that the Ukrainian army would be ready for a future conflict.

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