Merkel Sparks Controversy Suggesting Russia Invasion Could Have Been Avoided. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel claimed Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine might have been prevented if there had been no Covid pandemic. Merkel suggested Eastern European leaders’ refusal to negotiate with Putin in 2021 contributed to the Russian attack. Her comments during a Hungarian interview promoting her memoir “Freedom” drew sharp criticism from Ukraine and Eastern European leaders. Kremlin-aligned media praised Merkel, framing her remarks as evidence of Western provocation in the Ukrainian conflict. Critics argue Merkel failed to recognize the threat posed by Moscow during her 16-year tenure, prioritizing trade over security. Merkel’s Russia policy included the Nord Stream pipelines, which many Eastern European leaders saw as appeasement. Experts say her reluctance to acknowledge mistakes hinders Germany’s broader reassessment of its role leading up to the war. Sympathy for Putin remains in parts of Germany, with far-right and populist-left parties seizing on Merkel’s remarks to criticize NATO. [Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT]