Yesterday at 19:21
Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said that Ukraine will be able to maintain its independence only thanks to the support of the United States and NATO.
According to FAZ, Merkel made this statement shortly before Donald Trump’s inauguration as US president. She emphasized that with Russia’s attack on Ukraine, the basic principle of the European post-war order – territorial integrity – was destroyed.
Speaking at a reception of the Christian Democratic Union in Düsseldorf, Merkel noted that only joint efforts of the US and NATO can prevent Putin’s victory and preserve Ukraine as an independent state.
Commenting on the figure of Donald Trump, Merkel called him a “special president” who defends US interests but does not believe in multilateral cooperation. “For him there is always a winner and a loser,” she added.
Nevertheless, Merkel emphasized the importance of dialogue with Trump, noting that Europe should not underestimate its capabilities. “We are also a strong factor, and it would be unwise for the US to ignore its allies in Europe,” she said.
Donald Trump has previously repeatedly criticized Germany for insufficient defense spending, as under Merkel’s chancellorship, the country did not even reach the 2% of GDP required by NATO commitments. However, Trump insists that this figure should be increased to 5%.
Opposition politician Friedrich Merz, a candidate for chancellor from the CDU/CSU bloc, sees Trump’s presidency as a new opportunity for Europe, despite the differences.
