Macron Agrees With Merkel: Minsk Accord Helped Europe Prepare for Putin

Merkel admitted in December 2022 that the Minsk agreements were an effective ruse to give Ukraine time to 'get stronger'

French President Emmanuel Macron gave an interview with The Economist and said he harbors no regrets about the actions taken during the Minsk agreements because it helped to “slow things down” and enabled the continent “to build joint European demands with regard to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin.”

In 2014, Ukraine and these separatists agreed to the 12-point Minsk Agreement that called for a ceasefire in the region, but both sides violated the deal. In February 2015, the Minsk II Agreement, created by France and Germany, also called for a ceasefire, which Ukraine violated. 

Russia said the deal required Kyiv to allow separatist authorities to form their own central government. Ukraine said it will never allow Moscow to have a de facto veto on foreign policy decisions.

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel admitted in December 2022 that the Minsk agreements were an effective ruse to give Ukraine time to “get stronger” for its next conflict with Russia.