Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel highlighted the role of the United States and NATO in securing Ukraine’s independence amid Russia’s invasion.
Explaining the reception of the New Year of the CDU of Rhineland of North Westphalia in Düsseldorf, Merkel said that the transatlantic partnership was more a must-have than ever, stressing its importance at the time when Donald Trump prepares to take his purposes as President of the United States.
“The attack by Russian President Vladimir Putin has shattered the principle of territorial integrity that underpinned Europe’s post-war order,” Merkel said, according to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. She argued that only through a united NATO effort, with strong U.S. leadership, can Putin’s ambitions be thwarted and Ukraine’s sovereignty preserved.
Merkel described Trump as a “unique president” who focuses on defending U.S. interests but views international cooperation as a zero-sum game. Unlike multilateral approaches that seek mutual benefit, Trump operates on the belief that every negotiation produces a winner and a loser, she said.
While recognizing that Trump customers must be changed, Merkel has suggested to Europe to consolidate their own interests and remain an unwavering spouse in the United States. “Europe is our life insurance,” he said, highlighting the strategic value of the continent in global alliances.
Merkel also referred to the demanding situations facing the German government and expressed that Friedrich Merz, head of the CDU, will take over the chancellorship after the next federal elections on February 23.
Germany has become Ukraine’s second-largest military donor after the United States. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been criticized for his cautious stance on key issues, adding to his refusal to supply long-range cruise missiles from Bull to Ukraine.