Estonia Denounces Angela Merkel's Comments on Russia-Ukraine War Blame

Merkel's Controversial Remarks Spark Outcry

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has drawn sharp criticism from Estonian officials following her recent comments regarding the origins of the full-scale Russia-Ukraine war. In an interview with the Hungarian YouTube channel Partizan on October 3, 2025, Merkel stated that in June 2021, she had proposed a new format for direct talks between the European Union and Russian President Vladimir Putin. She indicated that she felt Putin was no longer taking the Minsk agreements seriously and that a new diplomatic approach was necessary.

Merkel claimed that this initiative was met with resistance from certain EU member states, primarily the Baltic states—Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia—along with Poland. According to Merkel, these countries opposed the talks due to fears that a common EU policy towards Russia could not be achieved. She implied that the rejection of this proposed dialogue might have contributed to the subsequent full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Estonian Officials Issue Strong Rebuttal

Estonian leaders swiftly condemned Merkel's statements, asserting that her remarks were misguided and attempted to shift blame. Marko Mihkelson, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Estonian Parliament, described Merkel's comments as a 'new and unfortunately very low point' for the former Chancellor. He accused her of 'blaming the Baltic states and Poland for triggering Russia's imperial war' and suggested that her statements 'cast a shadow over her entire period as Germany's chancellor', also referencing the Nord Stream pipeline.

Estonia's Foreign Minister, Margus Tsahkna, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that 'Russia alone is to blame for this aggression'. While not directly naming Merkel, Tsahkna stressed that the war was driven by 'Moscow's refusal to accept the collapse of the Soviet Union and its enduring imperial ambitions'. He further criticized past European policies, including Germany's role in the Nord Stream pipeline and the refusal to grant Ukraine and Georgia a NATO Membership Action Plan at the 2008 Bucharest Summit, arguing that such decisions emboldened Russia.

Wider European and International Reactions

The controversy extended beyond Estonia, with Poland also expressing strong disapproval of Merkel's remarks. Former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki labeled Merkel 'one of the most damaging German politicians in Europe' and an 'open lobbyist for Putin'. Conversely, the Kremlin notably endorsed Merkel's claims, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov suggesting that the EU's foreign policy is often 'held hostage by the Baltic states and Warsaw's rabid policies'.

The debate highlights ongoing tensions and differing perspectives within Europe regarding the historical context and responsibility for the conflict in Ukraine, as well as the effectiveness of past diplomatic engagements with Russia.