Let us remind you, this is about the interview of the erstwhile German Chancellor for the Hungarian portal "Partizan". Angela Merkel said that due to the opposition of the Baltic and Polish countries, no direct EU talks with Putin took place in 2021.
The interview was reported by the German paper "Bild". And he gave the header that caused the shock. "Merkel blames Poland for Putin's war" – Europe learned.
Since Monday this header – in German and English, due to the fact that the case has besides been described by the British "Daily Mail", giving itself the title "Angela Merkel claims that Poland and the Baltic States are liable for Putin's war in Ukraine" – circulates in the virtual world, causing stormy reactions not only in Poland. In Estonia, Finland, Ukraine and another countries commenting on the cooking – from outrage, shock, disbelief.
"Merkel is simply a disgrace to himself, Germany and CDU" – responded to the X-known Swedish economist and commentator of global affairs Anders Åslund. Experts, abroad, politicians and average people, compose that it casts a shadow on her full government, that she showed a very low level, that she completely ruined her reputation, etc., etc.
Magierowski of Merkel: "Words, so abundantly quoted present by the media, do not fall out of her mouth"
In Poland, too. "It must be admitted that a rather impudent woman", "Trying present to shed work for the mistakes of her own politics on others", "She has proven to be at the forefront of Europe's most damaging German politicians in the last century" – thundered politicians and average netizens.
However, the substance is not as simple as it seems. There were rapidly voices that Merkel did not say specified words. Marek Magierowski, erstwhile ambassador to Israel and the US during the PiS regulation courageously – despite, as he admitted, "the shallow decks of sympathy for Merkel – took it even in defense.
"Where is the interview place for Hungarian Channel Partizan Angela Merkel " Blame Poland for the outbreak of war in Ukraine"? The words, so richly quoted present by the media, do not fall out of her mouth," he noted.
Then he explained, "The erstwhile Chancellor only says that the Baltics and Poland did not agree to the fresh EU format of talks with Russia. From this message to the wording that 'Poland is co-responsible for Putin' war, the road is rather far away. In short: manipulation and disinformation level pro".
Let's stick to what Magierowski says. He's a serious man. He's right. It cannot be expected from specified words that Poland pushed everyone into a war that is simply a nightmare – says erstwhile Prime Minister Leszek Miller in a conversation with the subject.
As he points out, he himself did not hear an interview with Merkel. She doesn't know precisely what she said and in what context. I say there's a recording of this interview. You'd gotta perceive carefully to what Mrs. Merkel says. What about "Bild" making that title? You know what "Bild" and "Daily Mail" are. What to expect? – reacts.
"I couldn't believe that title."
According to our conversations, I think most of the audience based only on titles. respective people refuse to talk to us due to this. They haven't heard the interview, they don't want to comment on it.
– I couldn't believe the title. I thought something was wrong. Either that title or the Chancellor. I would not anticipate this from her, which is why I think it is absurd – he admits in a conversation with the EP MEP Andrzej Halicki, vice-president of the European People's organization faction in EP X.
He saw him in regular Mail. He was surprised. But he besides immediately points out: – I did not read the full article. I only went through it superficially. I know it's outrageous. Those words are outrageous. Blaming anyone for the outbreak of war is absurd. But I would gotta read the full interview to know in what context Angela Merkel was referring to this," she says.
Leszek Miller was surprised, too. erstwhile he saw the title he thought:
Why is Mrs Merkel only talking about this now? She had adequate time to say it. I wonder what her intent would be to say something that's not true. Especially after all these years. I don't know what she's doing now, but whenever she was in charge, she was portrayed as a politician for Polish-German relations. Anyway, that's how I saw her – that she is not a politician who would inflame Polish-German relations.
Kaczyński: "Politic Mutti and Tusk career promoter"
On the right, any rapidly felt the wind in the sails. The password "Merkel" reminds them unambiguously. You shouldn't have waited long. Social media rapidly ran photos of the erstwhile German Chancellor with Donald Tuski.
"It was this disgusting female Tusk who gave up his political life. The cost of Poland" – taunts 1 of active X users.
"Mr Tusk, will you besides kiss Merkel by hand?" asks Euro MP PiS Mariusz Kamiński.
Michał Karnowski thunders that Merkel's words are "another confirmation of how dangerous this female was for Poland and all Europe. She and her medal-winning German friends over the Vistula".
Jarosław Kaczyński himself did not miss specified an opportunity. It immediately said, "Politic Mutti and career promoter Tusk accuses Poland and the Baltic countries of contributing to the war in Ukraine due to the fact that they did not search to warm relations with Russia..."
The National Movement also: " Donald Tusk's friend Angela Merkel returned and for Russia's attack on Ukraine he impertinently blames Poland due to the fact that it 'tendered EU relations with Russia'".
The comments show that it doesn't substance whether Merkel said that or not. “This will surely be utilized many times,” says Andrzej Halicki.
But as shortly as the PiS propaganda has been released, let's focus on what truly happened in the interview, not on discussing the "Bild" newspaper.
Gen. Pacek: – War preparations and possible scenarios surely lasted for years
Prof. dr hab. Bogusław Pacek, Major General at Retired, manager of the Polish Army Museum in Warsaw, comments: "I am absolutely convinced that Angela Merkel, whether she said so or not, could not think so. He's a very serious chancellor with quite a few experience. She must have realized that Vladimir Putin's presence or absence at the summit during the pandemic could not have a decisive importance for the start of the war with Ukraine. I remind you that this war began in 2014, not in 2022.
– Preparations for war and possible scenarios surely continued for years. In 2019, with the mouth of Walerija Gierasimov, head of the General Staff, the Russian Federation announced a fresh war doctrine. What has been happening in Ukraine for over 3 years is precisely what it announced. That this is no longer a hybrid war and a psychological-information action. That this is simply a race of modern technology. That this is an action on critical infrastructure – reminds the general.
– Putin's participation or deficiency of participation in the gathering with Angela Merkel and another European leaders would have absolutely no meaning here. possibly it could only be that Putin would learn something from the leaders of Europe and better prepared for the war – General Pacek points out.
Background call to Merkel. "Some countries did not support this, especially the Baltic States, but Poland besides opposed"
Let us remind you, in the interview with Merkel, it was about events 4 years ago. Merkel in an interview recalls June 2021 erstwhile she had the impression that Vladimir Putin "does not take the Minsk Agreement seriously".
As Merkel stated, the agreement was not a 'perfect solution', but it brought 'pacification', and between 2015 and 2021. Ukraine "could gather strength, became another country and thus could better defend herself".
When the situation changed in 2021, Merkel and Macro wanted a fresh format, a direct EU conversation with Putin. "Some countries did not support this, especially the Baltic States, but Poland was against it, due to the fact that (these countries) feared that we had no common policy towards Russia," she said in an interview.
The Minsk agreements have been broken. Who was the direct cause? I realize that Mrs Merkel points to the Baltic States and Poland. It'd be worth knowing what truly happened. Apart from what she truly said, due to the fact that we don't know, I think it's a very interesting case. It is worth lighting from all points of view. possibly Merkel will say it herself – Leszek Miller reacts.
Andrzej Halicki emphasizes that in this case the behaviour of 4 states cannot be over-interpreted as a political blockade on any expression of cooperation.
– The skeptical view of Russia's partnership is not rusophobia, but an component of the experience of our full history. We're not rusophobes. This is skeptical resulting from history, experience and fresh events. If Russia is an incredible partner, it is hard to build relations for the future," she says.
Gen. Pacek: – The situation in which Putin declared war is specific
Gen. Bogusław Pacek emphasizes that Putin's decision weighed many elements.
“The situation in which Putin declared war is specific. She took place much later than the time Merkel is talking about. Putin's decision was greatly influenced by president Trump's announcement yet during his first word of office of a fresh approach to American participation in defence of Europe. Trump then announced the partial removal of American troops from Europe. Putin knew perfectly well that without Americans Europe would be weak and easy to deal with," he says.
That's all, as the gene points out. Pacek, took place much earlier – at the time Angela Merkel talked about.
– It was growing. erstwhile Putin made his decision, it was a gap. 5 minutes to Russia. On the 1 hand, Putin had before time a large commitment of America to the Far East. On the another hand, a broken Europe, differentiated in political terms and interests, but besides weak miliatarism, reminds the expert.
Moreover, as he says, Ukrainian society was besides very diverse, many nationalist movements have emerged, which began to play a large role. Like spiritual issues, among others: – It was then that Ukraine decided on its own Orthodox church, not all of which were satisfied.
"Russia has given much evidence that we were right at the time"
In the context of Merkel's words, General Pacek besides recalls that Western Europe, the Baltic States and Poland have had a different approach to Russia for years.
– present everyone sees the same thing, the West says: You were right. They understood that Russia is not a talking partner. besides president Donald Trump, due to the fact that America did not realize it before. And mistakenly, like Europe of that time, she treated the Russian Federation as 1 of the countries that uses miliatarian tools in its policy, but nevertheless responds to the language of politics and dilemmas. And it turned out that Russia in its roots has expansion, aggression and the desire to dominate Europe – he says in an interview with the Temat.
– Russia has given much evidence that we were right at the time. And today, this evidence is being shown overnight. And the French, and the British, realize that now Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, or Poland, and next day Berlin. Moscow elites do not hide it," he says.
