Portrait of Angela Merkel
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Angela Merkel on Minsk Agreement

Advocated temporary solution (strong)

TL;DR

Angela Merkel viewed the Minsk Agreement as a necessary attempt to buy Ukraine time to grow stronger militarily.

Key Points

  • She stated that the 2014 Minsk agreement was an attempt to give Ukraine time to strengthen its military, which it subsequently did.

  • In February 2019, she noted that while the agreement brought a ceasefire, the conflict resolution process was far from achieved and required continued work.

  • She expressed frustration that her ability to influence the Russian President diminished in her final months in office, hindering further diplomatic efforts in 2021.

Summary

Angela Merkel positioned the Minsk Agreement, which she helped mediate via the Normandy Format alongside the French President, as a crucial instrument to halt the conflict in Donbas after Russia forced Ukraine to sign the initial protocol in September 2014, followed by Minsk II in February 2015. She consistently maintained that, despite its failure to achieve a final resolution, the agreement was intended to create a necessary pause in the fighting, stating it was an attempt to give Ukraine time. She later confirmed that Ukraine utilized this period to improve its military capabilities significantly, a transformation that made the country stronger than it was in 2014/2015.

Her perspective on the agreement’s utility evolved, as she mentioned feeling by mid-2021 that the process had become “dead in the water” and that her influence over the Russian President waned as her term concluded. While some critics claimed the negotiations were a deliberate ruse, both Merkel and the French President later stated that the agreements succeeded in providing a vital respite, even if the ultimate goal of full implementation, particularly regarding border control and special status for Donbas, was never realized. She maintained that the attempt at diplomacy was right, even though it ultimately failed to prevent the full-scale invasion in 2022.

Key Quotes

The 2014 Minsk agreement was an attempt to give Ukraine time.

And the Minsk Agreement of 2014 was an attempt to give Ukraine time.

As far as the Minsk agreements are concerned, we are united.

Frequently Asked Questions

Angela Merkel viewed the Minsk Agreement as an attempt to secure a ceasefire and provide Ukraine with valuable time. She acknowledged that the agreement was not a final political resolution but a necessary step to prevent further immediate escalation of violence. This respite allowed Ukraine to improve its military and political standing.

She acknowledged that the agreement provided Ukraine with time to become militarily stronger, which is evident in the current conflict, an observation made in hindsight. While some argue this implies it was a deliberate ruse, she maintained her actions were aimed at preventing war through diplomacy rather than intending to facilitate a future military confrontation.

The former Chancellor noted that key provisions of the Minsk agreements, such as disarmament and international supervision, were never fully implemented by all parties. She cited disagreements, particularly with the Ukrainian President over the timing of border control relative to local elections, as stumbling blocks to full compliance.