Germany admits: It was a mistake to approach Russia in recent years

Germany's president, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who had previously served as foreign minister, said on Tuesday that Germany's policy towards Russia in recent years would have to be on “ceptic” and the most unclear “”, Deutsche Welle writes, Perskopi follows.

“We failed at many points”, the German president told state channel ZDF.

It's true that we should have taken our partners' warnings from Eastern Europe more seriously, especially after 2014”.

Comments by Steinmeier, who served as foreign minister at the time of Chancellor Angel Merkel in 2013-2017, come when he is at the centre of criticism for his ties with Russia.

Germany's decision to proceed with the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline despite Russia's actions had drawn international criticism and particularly Washington's anger.

Germany's current Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has cancelled the pipeline several days after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February.

My position on Nord Stream 2 was clearly wrong”, Steinmeier said on Tuesday.

“We continued to believe in bridges that Russia no longer believed and against the warnings coming from our partners”, the German president said.

“This error cost Germany its credibility in Eastern Europe”, he acknowledges, adding: “I am sure there will be no return to normal with Russia led by Putin, no return to the status quo”.

Germany is very dependent on imports of fuels from Russia and is now searching for new sources of gas and oil and has pledged to withdraw completely from Russia's resources in the near future.