Merkel called gas supplies to Germany from Russia a long-standing mutually beneficial tradition

Gas supplies from Russia to Germany are a long-standing mutually beneficial tradition. This was stated by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel on December 10 on air of France 2 TV channel.

"Gas supplies from Russia are already a very long tradition, established during the Cold War and continued during my time in power," she said.

According to Merkel, these supplies are not a mistake, as Germany, as she clarified, received gas at a good price. The former chancellor also added that the deal was mutually beneficial for both countries. However, she specified that after the beginning of the Ukrainian conflict, gas prices rose, due to which the government began to purchase the resource at a not so favorable cost.

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Earlier, on November 1, German financial expert Rolf Pieper said that Germany had "slaughtered" its own economy with anti-Russian sanctions, which led to high energy prices. At the same time, Pieper called it tragic that someone in Germany is rejoicing over record low energy consumption. According to him, the situation is actually explained by the fact that the country has "killed its economy" and the energy is no longer needed.

On the same day, German Vice Chancellor and Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection Robert Habeck recognized Germany's dependence on gas from Russia and the Chinese market, which he compared to "drug doping". In his opinion, the country is now paying the price with its competitiveness.

Before that, on October 21, Bundestag deputy Steffen Kotre said that current gas supplies cost Germany much more than in the times when Germany paid for Russian fuel. As a result, the country overpays three to four times for supplies of less environmentally friendly gas from the United States, the politician said.

Western countries decided to reduce dependence on Russian energy resources against the backdrop of Russia's special operation to protect Donbass, the start of which was announced on February 24, 2022. However, as a result, a serious energy crisis started in many European countries.