Sigmar Gabriel suggests Angela Merkel could have prevented Ukraine war

Former German Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel has sparked a fresh debate by claiming that the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia would not have occurred if Angela Merkel had remained in office. In recent remarks, the veteran Social Democratic politician argued that the diplomatic momentum maintained during the Merkel era was a critical factor in preventing large-scale conflict. Gabriel pointed to the Minsk agreements, which were negotiated with Merkel's involvement, as a framework that, while imperfect, provided a necessary level of stability between Moscow and the West. He suggested that her departure from the chancellery in 2021 left a vacuum in European leadership that removed a key driving force for ongoing dialogue. According to Gabriel, the absence of this high-level diplomatic engagement allowed the situation to deteriorate into the current war. He further proposed that the former chancellor should be considered for a role as a mediator to help facilitate a ceasefire, despite her previous indications that she does not wish to return to active politics. These comments come as Germany continues to grapple with the long-term consequences of its past energy and security policies toward Russia. While Gabriel acknowledged that the Minsk agreements are widely viewed as having failed, he maintained that they remain a relevant model for freezing the current conflict. His assessment has drawn attention to the ongoing discussion in Germany regarding the effectiveness of past diplomatic strategies and the potential for future negotiations to end the fighting.