The former German chancellor’s claim that Poland shares responsibility for the outbreak of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has echoed widely across the public sphere. The statement has sparked a wave of sharp reactions on social media. “She has proven that she ranks among the most damaging German politicians to Europe in the past century,” wrote Mateusz Morawiecki, former Prime Minister of Poland.
On February 24, 2022 – nearly four years ago – Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Earlier, in 2014, Russia illegally annexed Crimea and began military operations in the Donbas. For years, Western European countries, particularly Germany, continued economic cooperation with Russia despite its aggression toward Georgia and Ukraine. The symbol of that cooperation was the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline – a Russian-German project pushed through by former Chancellor Angela Merkel. As a result, the West indirectly financed Putin’s war machine.
Angela Merkel recently gave an interview in which she made scandalous remarks about Poland and the Baltic states, suggesting that they bear partial responsibility for Putin’s war against Ukraine. “In June 2021, I sensed that Putin no longer took the Minsk Agreements seriously, which is why I proposed a new format under which the EU could engage directly with him. Some did not support this idea. These were primarily the Baltic states, but Poland was also against it. In any case, it didn’t come to fruition. Then I left office, and that’s when Putin’s aggression began,” Merkel said.
The former German chancellor’s claim was discussed this morning on TV Republika by Michał Rachoń, the network’s program director and co-author of the documentary series Reset and the book Zgoda, both focused on the policy of “reset” in Polish-Russian relations during Donald Tusk’s first government.
The echo of Merkel’s disgraceful words
The controversy continues to spread across social media. Below are comments from right-wing Polish politicians – though no reaction has yet come from Donald Tusk, the head of the government.
Mateusz Morawiecki, former Polish Prime Minister, commented on Merkel’s interview, saying: “Angela Merkel, through her thoughtless interview, has proven that she ranks among the most damaging German politicians to Europe in the past century.“
Piotr Müller, MEP from Law and Justice (PiS), added: “It’s hard not to get the impression that former German Chancellor Angela Merkel is now trying to shift the blame for the failures of her own policies onto others. Suggesting that Poland is in any way co-responsible for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is not only absurd but entirely disconnected from reality. It was Germany – under Merkel’s leadership – that for years pursued a pro-Putin, pro-Russian policy, making the whole of Europe dependent on Russian gas and giving the Kremlin a powerful tool of leverage.“
Another Law and Justice MEP, Waldemar Buda, wrote: “When Merkel says she wanted to make another deal with Putin, it probably would have ended with the partition of Ukraine! They just don’t understand that by doing business with Putin, they brought about this war!“
Mariusz Błaszczak, former head of the Ministry of National Defence (MON), wondered whether Donald Tusk would respond: “The founder of Putin’s regime accuses Poland of being co-responsible for Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Never before have Merkel’s words been so thoughtless, foolish, and harmful. Will Donald Tusk dare to condemn his political patron?“
Anna Kwiecień, MP from Law and Justice, reminded: “Remember when Germans greeted migrants with flowers because Merkel invited them to Germany without asking other countries? In a situation of free movement within the EU, was it right to make such a decision without consultation? …This woman destroyed Germany, destroyed the Schengen Area, destroyed the EU, Europe itself… I hope she will one day be held criminally accountable for this…“
Mariusz Kamiński, MEP from Law and Justice, also commented: “Merkel’s statement is scandalous. Tusk’s long-time mentor and career sponsor claims that Poland and the Baltic States contributed to Russia’s war against Ukraine. Mr. Tusk, will you be kissing Merkel’s hand for this too?“