Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel. File photoBERLIN, Jun 17 Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel believes her resignation was one of the reasons for the current escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, she said in an interview with the RND media group.
& #34;My departure could have contributed to this, such as the elections in France, the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, or the stupor in the implementation of the Minsk agreement", she said.
Russia has been conducting a military operation in Ukraine since February 24 . As Vladimir Putin stated, its goal is «to protect people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide by the Kyiv regime for eight years.» According to the Ministry of Defense, the Russian army has already completed the main tasks of the first stage — significantly reduced the combat potential of Ukraine. The ministry called the liberation of Donbass the main goal of the operation.