“The frankness with which Mrs. Merkel speaks on the subject is frightening,” the Austrian politician said on television. “Such words undermine the basis of trust between the parties,” he said.
In an interview published on December 7th with the German newspaper Die Zeit, Angela Merkel described the conclusion of the Minsk agreements as an attempt for Ukraine to gain time in strengthening itself, prior to attacking, overrunning, and seizing the Donbass region.
According to her, it was clear to everyone that the conflict remained frozen and the problem had not been resolved, but this is what gave Ukraine invaluable time. Merkel expressed doubts that NATO member countries could provide support to Kiev at the time to the extent that they do now.
During the signing of the agreement in the city of Minsk, Belarus, the Ukrainian authorities promised to amend their Constitution to grant autonomy to Lugansk and Donetsk, as well as to hold local elections in both regions.
President Vladimir Putin claimed that the Minsk agreements were killed by the current Kiev authorities, long before the recognition of Lugansk and Donetsk people’s republics, so Merkel’s statements only justify the start of the special military operation.
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