In her soon-to-be-published memoirs, the former Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, "Freedom" , explained why in 2008 she opposed giving Ukraine and Georgia the NATO Membership Action Plan (NAP).
Merkel recalls the NATO summit in Bucharest, when this decision was made, and notes that she feared a military response from Russia.
She also emphasizes that even the very prospect of Ukraine's membership in NATO was perceived by Vladimir Putin as a "declaration of war" .
According to Merkel, the majority of Ukrainians at that time did not support joining NATO. Her stance reflected concerns about stability in the region, given Russia's growing aggression.
Describing the meeting with Donald Trump in 2017, Merkel mentions his sympathy for the Russian president. She writes that Trump was "fascinated" by Putin and politicians with autocratic traits.
The bloc's decision in 2008 to give Ukraine and Georgia only the promise of the prospect of NATO membership is considered by many to be an important factor that increased Russia's confidence in the possibility of aggression against these countries. These events continue to influence the current geopolitical situation.
