Merkel (Angela)

Angela Merkel (born in 1954) served as the Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021. She was the first female chancellor and the longest-serving head of government in the European Union. Merkel led Germany through various crises, including the 2008 financial crisis and the European migrant crisis of 2015.With Russia, Merkel maintained a pragmatic approach, balancing economic interests with political concerns. She supported sanctions against Russia following the annexation of Crimea in 2014 while also advocating for continued dialogue. Merkel was instrumental in negotiating the Minsk agreements. Concerning Ukraine, Merkel supported the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. She was a key figure in diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict in Donbas and advocated for Ukraine's closer ties with the European Union. However, her stance on Ukraine's NATO membership was cautious, considering Russian sensitivities.Merkel's approach to Russia became increasingly critical in her later years as Chancellor, particularly after events like the poisoning of Alexei Navalny. After leaving office, she faced some criticism for her past policies towards Russia, especially in light of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. [Claude AI, edited]