"독일 유화 정책이 비극 불러" Zelensky... Merkel "우리 결정 고수" 반박

Ukraine's NATO Membership Blocked in 2008 Due to Opposition from Germany and France

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Germany and France's conciliatory stance regarding Russia's recent invasion, prompting former German Chancellor Angela Merkel's camp to respond.

According to a report by German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) on the 4th (local time), Merkel's spokesperson stated in a press release that day, "We stand by the decision made at the NATO summit held in Bucharest, Romania, in 2008."

The decision referred to by Merkel's camp pertains to the summit held in Romania in 2008. At that time, the United States pushed for the formal NATO membership of Ukraine and Georgia, but Germany and France opposed it, citing unmet conditions. In that year, the German Chancellor was Angela Merkel, and the French head of state was former President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Due to opposition from Germany and France, Ukraine's NATO membership was ultimately blocked.

However, Merkel's camp added that they fully support Ukraine in the current war. Merkel's spokesperson said, "We are witnessing the brutal acts that occurred in Bucha and other parts of Ukraine," and "We support all efforts by governments and the international community to end Russia's barbaric actions."

Earlier, President Zelensky mentioned former Chancellor Merkel and former President Sarkozy in a virtual speech on the 3rd. He said, "Today marks the 14th anniversary of the NATO summit in 2008 when Germany and France opposed Ukraine's membership," and "For years, the West has shown indecisiveness and made concessions toward Russia."

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, delivering a virtual speech at the UN Security Council / Photo by Yonhap News

He continued, "I want to invite former Chancellor Merkel and former President Sarkozy to Bucha. I urge them to see with their own eyes what 14 years of concession policies toward Russia have brought about," raising his voice.

Criticism is emerging that the European Union (EU) has failed to respond adequately to the current crisis due to Germany's conciliatory attitude toward Russia.

Jarosław Kaczy?ski, Poland's Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the ruling Law and Justice party, strongly criticized in an interview with German media Die Welt that day, saying, "Germany, along with France, is excessively biased toward Russia. Germany has not supplied sufficient weapons to Ukraine and has not imposed an energy embargo on Russia."

During Merkel's tenure as Chancellor in 2011, Germany pushed forward the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, which would allow direct natural gas imports from Russia, sparking controversy. Nord Stream 2 was suspended last month on the 22nd, two days before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as part of sanctions against Russia.

Some say that cracks are appearing in the image of former Chancellor Merkel, who was once regarded as having successfully led Germany and the EU. French AFP news agency reported, "Merkel was praised as a leader of the free world for the past 16 years," and "Her achievements are now showing flaws in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.