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Military operation in Ukraine

Merkel's memoirs confirm Russia sought to avoid conflict — reporter

Thomas Fazi said that, according to the former German chancellor, Russian President Vladimir Putin was committed to peace

BERLIN, December 17. /TASS/. The memoirs of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel (2005-2021) confirm that the Russian leadership made efforts to prevent the conflict in Ukraine until the last moment, independent journalist Thomas Fazi said after studying the more than 700-page book.

"Even in early days of 2022, almost up to the end, <...> [Russian President Vladimir] Putin did really try to avoid this outcome," Fazi told the Neutrality Studies YouTube channel in an interview. "Interestingly, Merkel does confirm this. She does confirm that, at the end of the day, Putin was committed to peace and was committed to avoiding this war through diplomatic means," he added.

The reporter noted that Merkel attributes the failure to prevent the conflict to the coronavirus pandemic. She explains that the healthcare crisis halted all in-person working contacts, Fazi pointed out. In her book, the former chancellor also mentions that in mid-2021 she proposed to the European Council to hold talks with the Russian leader, but the initiative was rejected by Lithuania, Poland, and Estonia.

Merkel's memoirs were released in late November. The 736-page book is priced at €42 in Germany. In the book, Merkel shares her perceptions of leaders of major nations, including Putin and US President Donald Trump. She writes that she first met Putin in June 2000 during his visit to Berlin. According to Merkel, the Russian leader has done everything to restore his country as an important player on the international stage.

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Military operation in Ukraine

Conflict in Syria

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