‘Putin assured Merkel of not invading Ukraine militarily’
22 March 2014 5:05 AM IST
For weeks, in a series of phone calls, the Russian president, speaking mainly in the German he perfected as a KGB agent in East Germany, had assured the chancellor he would respect the territorial integrity of his western neighbour and had no plans to intervene militarily. Merkel, in turn, had been preaching caution on punishing Russia in her talks with the United States, hopeful that Putin would eventually back down and accept proposals to ease the crisis.
But on the 2 March call, according to German sources, Putin dropped all pretence and coldly admitted to sending Russian troops into Crimea. The conversation seems to have sapped what little faith Merkel still had in Putin, according to officials in Berlin and Washington. The Germans came away convinced the Russian leader had deceived them in order to win time to tighten his grip on Crimea. Putin could no longer be trusted. Merkel later called U.S. President Barack Obama to vent. The German government declined comment.
‘It’s not as if we had any illusions about Putin, but before this we at least had the impression that there was some degree of respect there,’ said one German source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. According to several officials, the call between the leaders was a turning point in Berlin’s approach to the crisis.
Despite Germany’s heavy dependence on Russian oil and gas, extensive business interests in the country and long-held view of Moscow as a ‘strategic partner’, Merkel swung quickly behind the punitive measures she had been warning against for weeks. Four days later, at a hastily called EU summit in Brussels, where leaders set out a three-step plan to ratchet up sanctions against Russia, she was among the most vocal proponents of a tough line, according to participants.
On Thursday, ahead of another summit, she warned in a speech in parliament that Europe was prepared to move to politically sensitive ‘phase three’ measures, including economic sanctions, if Russia refused to back down. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether Europe has the stomach to deliver on that threat.
They will also show whether Merkel, who emerged as Europe’s dominant leader during the euro zone debt crisis, can keep 28 member states with different economic and political interests united and firm in their approach to Russia. ‘If she puts her foot down, few will defy her,’ said an EU official.
But on the 2 March call, according to German sources, Putin dropped all pretence and coldly admitted to sending Russian troops into Crimea. The conversation seems to have sapped what little faith Merkel still had in Putin, according to officials in Berlin and Washington. The Germans came away convinced the Russian leader had deceived them in order to win time to tighten his grip on Crimea. Putin could no longer be trusted. Merkel later called U.S. President Barack Obama to vent. The German government declined comment.
‘It’s not as if we had any illusions about Putin, but before this we at least had the impression that there was some degree of respect there,’ said one German source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. According to several officials, the call between the leaders was a turning point in Berlin’s approach to the crisis.
Despite Germany’s heavy dependence on Russian oil and gas, extensive business interests in the country and long-held view of Moscow as a ‘strategic partner’, Merkel swung quickly behind the punitive measures she had been warning against for weeks. Four days later, at a hastily called EU summit in Brussels, where leaders set out a three-step plan to ratchet up sanctions against Russia, she was among the most vocal proponents of a tough line, according to participants.
On Thursday, ahead of another summit, she warned in a speech in parliament that Europe was prepared to move to politically sensitive ‘phase three’ measures, including economic sanctions, if Russia refused to back down. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether Europe has the stomach to deliver on that threat.
They will also show whether Merkel, who emerged as Europe’s dominant leader during the euro zone debt crisis, can keep 28 member states with different economic and political interests united and firm in their approach to Russia. ‘If she puts her foot down, few will defy her,’ said an EU official.
Next Story
