Angela Merkel’s memoirs reveal her cautious stance on Ukraine's swift NATO accession. As German Chancellor, she feared Russia's military response, especially given the Russian military presence in Crimea. Merkel noted the lack of significant Ukrainian public support for NATO membership at the time. She believed that Ukraine's NATO membership would not deter Vladimir Putin's aggression and was skeptical about NATO states' willingness to intervene militarily.
During the 2008 NATO summit in Bucharest, Merkel's compromise proposal delayed Ukraine and Georgia's membership aspirations, balancing between offering a potential membership promise and withholding an immediate candidate status. Merkel’s approach, while aimed at minimizing conflict, was met with criticism, particularly from Ukraine.
Her memoirs also cover challenging interactions with global leaders, including a difficult press conference with then-US President Donald Trump, who viewed international relations through a competitive, transactional lens. Merkel’s tenure reflected her pragmatic approach to complex geopolitical issues, highlighting her attempts to navigate the tension between alliance expansion and regional stability.
