During her visit to Budapest, Angela Merkel gave an interview to local media where she defended her policies on Russia and migration. She provided diplomatic backing to Viktor Orban, affirming that he protects Hungary’s national interests and is not a pro-Russian politician. The interview sparked mixed reactions among political opponents and within Hungary’s own political elite.
Merkel stated that direct EU-Russia agreements in 2021 could have saved Europe, but Poland and the Baltic states blocked this approach. Russian propaganda twisted these remarks as justification for Moscow’s actions and blamed the West for the start of the war.
In her statements, Merkel distanced herself from responsibility for German dependence on Russian gas, putting blame on predecessors. She also justified the "Minsk Agreements" as having bought time for Ukraine, despite the limited actual support provided to Ukraine by allies before Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Experts see Merkel's Budapest interview as an attempt to legitimize certain pro-Russian or ambiguous positions among European politicians and to shift some responsibility for the energy and security crisis onto other EU countries. These statements have enabled Russian media to strengthen narratives blaming the West.
The article concludes by discussing how Merkel’s political legacy remains controversial in Germany and across Europe, with ongoing debate about her role in weakening the EU’s security and energy position during her long chancellorship.
