Infographic
Who has been the world's most prominent female politician over the past 20 years?
If Merkel modestly believes that she is second, there is no first.
She's the Chancellor of Germany for 16 years and the undisputed Big Sister of Europe. Remember that before Trump took office, Obama's last foreign visit as the president of the United States was to Berlin, according to the common saying of the Western media, he came to bid farewell to Merkel: the Western world, please give it to you later.
But unfortunately, because of physical problems, Merkel chose to voluntarily withdraw from politics last October because of physical problems. But she may never have imagined that four months later, the Russian-Ukrainian conflict broke out, and Germany and Europe fell into an unprecedented crisis, and the crisis was still advancing in depth.
Merkel remained silent.
On September 27, she made a rare public appearance at the Kohl Foundation event in Berlin and was frank about the international situation. I have a feeling that Merkel, who has bid farewell to politics, really can't watch it anymore.
In front of many guests, Merkel's first warning: Putin's words must be taken seriously.
Her exact words were: "Don't take Putin's words as a bluff, taking them seriously is by no means a sign of weakness, on the contrary, it is a sign of political wisdom..."
Then, there's her second warning: to create a space for maneuver.
Merkel said she did so because "it helps to preserve room for maneuver and, just as importantly, to develop new room for maneuver." ”
She should have seen the red flags.
Not long ago, Putin mobilized part of the war and recruited 300,000 reservists; He also issued a clear warning on nuclear weapons, saying that if Russia's territorial integrity is threatened, "we will definitely use all the weapons we have at our disposal." This is not a bluff. ”
This raises a very difficult question, what places are related to Russia's territorial integrity?
With the referendum on joining Russia in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and other places, this is naturally regarded as territory by Russia. According to former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, if attacking these places is also considered aggression, Russia will use nuclear weapons.
But Ukraine certainly disagrees, and the West seems to have collectively ignored Putin's warnings, the United States continues to supply Ukraine with weapons, and fighting on the front lines is still raging. According to Zelensky, the Ukrainian army is still attacking and constantly recovering lost ground.
Is this challenging Putin's red line?
When asked how would the Ukrainian crisis be handled if Kohl were still alive?
Kohl was a former German chancellor who achieved the historic reunification of Germany during his tenure, and it was he who introduced Merkel into politics, carefully cultivated, and taught this East German girl who "could not use knives and forks correctly" normal political rules and etiquette. In the end, Merkel became Germany's most prominent chancellor.
As a result, Merkel issued a third warning: the next day must be focused on the next day (the future).
She explained that if it were Kohl, he would "make every effort to protect and restore Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity" as Kiev tried to repel Russian forces. But Cole will also focus on the "next day" and keep an open mind about what is now "unthinkable," "how to redevelop relations with Russia one day after the conflict is over."
See what it is, right?
Three warnings, Merkel's meaning is also clear.
1, on the surface it is Cole, but in fact it is her own attitude. Germany must support Ukraine and ensure its sovereignty and territorial integrity. This is also the political correctness of the West, Merkel is a Western politician after all.
2, but politicians must not be swayed by impulse and anger, but must take the long view and maintain a mindset for the "unthinkable", that is, how to develop new relations with Russia. After all, Russia cannot disappear.
3, Putin must be taken seriously, especially his warnings on nuclear weapons, if the policy blindly stimulates, it will lead to disaster, so there must be room for maneuver, and create conditions for new room for maneuver.
Frankly speaking, Merkel's words are actually very targeted.
Supporting Ukraine is the political correctness of the West, and no matter how good Merkel's relationship with Putin, even if she is in power now, Russia does not have any illusions on this major issue of right and wrong, and she will definitely choose Ukraine's side.
But she is indeed well aware of Putin's personality, and in fact, looking around the current European political scene, no one has more experience dealing with Putin than she does, so now she has to publicly warn that ignoring Putin is dangerous and provoking Putin is even more dangerous.
She also has the wisdom and courage of a politician.
What is the "unthinkable" thing?
It should be 45 years ago, Egypt and Israel, shortly after the Yom Kippur War, although still enemy countries, but Sadat suddenly visited Israel and created a "peace for the brave".
That is, 50 years ago, the United States and China were still very hostile, but Nixon's historic visit to China and Sino-US relations turned around, and thus there was a "week that changed the world."
In the future world, the Russian nation can never disappear, and Putin cannot collapse quickly. Then Europe must seriously think about what is in the best interest. It is refreshing to be angry, and it seems to be very relieved to overthrow Putin, but real politicians must remain calm and find the best outcome, rather than falling into a quagmire and unable to extricate themselves.
If it develops into nuclear weapons, it will undoubtedly be a complete disaster, a disaster in Ukraine, a disaster in Russia, and a disaster in Europe. The catastrophe in Europe, that is, above all, the catastrophe in Germany.
It must be noted that since her retirement from politics, Merkel has rarely spoken. Only in June did she say her resignation last year may have affected Putin's military campaign this year. Moreover, she does regret not being able to create a peaceful framework to avoid such a conflict as Russia's Ukraine.
Finally, what do you think?
I have always felt that Merkel's rare warning that at such a juncture, it is indeed worth the world's serious consideration. Three o'clock.
First, we are actually very close to nuclear warfare.
Do not think that nuclear war is far away from us, because of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, nuclear war is closer to us than ever before, even closer than at the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Think about it, if Russia loses the war completely, what will happen if this leads to the subversion of the Russian regime and the disintegration of the country?
That's unimaginable. Russia's nuclear bombs, at least tactical nuclear weapons, are certainly not a fixture. Don't forget, Putin's previous words, if Russia does not exist, what else will the earth do? Pushing a nuclear power into a desperate situation, just thinking about it makes people take a breath of cool air. Merkel is just saying a common sense.
Secondly, there must be wisdom and courage to end the war.
Indeed, if Merkel were still the German chancellor, would a Russian-Ukrainian conflict still be possible? But history cannot assume that we must face the harsh reality and find a way to resolve the conflict. Intimidating each other, fighting, nuclear threats... That must be a dead knot.
So, Merkel issued a clear warning. See clearly on the first day, this is a qualified politician; To see the third day of the next day is to be a good politician. Merkel is Merkel for a reason. But unfortunately, the eldest sister has retired. But the West should really ask her to come out and mediate peace.
Third, we must face even harsher facts.
Unfortunately, after looking at Western social media, Merkel's bitter words, the Internet seems to be a one-sided mockery, mocking her for only knowing compromise, mocking that she has always appeased Putin, which has led to the current result, resulting in Germany's dependence on Russian gas... In other words, Merkel thinks she's giving advice, and the vast majority of Westerners think that's poison.
Look at Merkel's political legacy: she advocates that Germany and Europe should get rid of the United States, she supports Germany's energy cooperation with Russia, and she also advocates strengthening economic and trade ties between Germany and China, but in less than half a year, many things have been completely unrecognizable. "The Six Gate Sect besieged the top of the light" naturally became a song; Ironically, the Nord Stream pipeline, which she presided over, was recently destroyed by a "mysterious" explosion. Who did this to you? I don't know.
We watched as Westerners rushed to the fire pit one after another, and even Merkel could not wake up even if she drank in the head. Everything has changed, when is the retribution for wrongs? After Merkel, there is indeed no Merkel; Putin's threat does not seem to be regarded as a threat either.
This terrible world.