Merkel linked the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine with COVID-19

The spread of COVID-19 has become one of the main reasons for the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine. This was stated on October 6 by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel in an interview with Partizan newspaper, published on the publication's YouTube channel.

According to her, the pandemic has made it impossible to hold face-to-face meetings between the leaders of the European Union (EU) countries and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and this has worsened the crisis.

"If you can't meet, if you can't discuss your differences in person, then you won't find new compromises," Merkel said.

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On the same day, Merkel called on European countries to seek a diplomatic solution to the Ukrainian issue, and not only to strengthen their defenses and military forces. She also called on the EU to think ahead and jointly about how diplomatic actions could affect the course of events.

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