Merkel says that together with Macron, she tried to establish dialogue with Putin

Spiegel reports.

"I wish there was more peaceful time after my departure. I did a lot of work related to Ukraine. But it was not a surprise. Minsk arrangements were violated. In the summer of 2021, after Biden and Putin's meeting, I jointly wanted to adjust independent European format of discussion with Putin in European Council. Some objected, and I no longer had strength to push the idea forward. After all, everyone knew: "she will leave in fall", former Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, said.

However, Merkel noted that she does not regret that her time in politics is over.

"Someone new had to do it. From the point of view of domestic politics, issues are overripe. And in sense of foreign policy, in the end, I have not advanced a single millimeter. Not only with regard to Ukraine. Transnistria and Moldova, Georgia and Abkhazia, Syria and Libya. Time has come for new approach", she said.

• In October, German Justice Minister Marco Buschmann said that Angela Merkel's policies after annexation of Crimea largely led to war in Ukraine.