Merkel says she doesn't blame herself for not trying hard enough for Ukraine

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks during a talk about "the challenging issues of our time" with author Alexander Osang (not pictured) at the Berliner Ensemble theatre in Berlin, Germany June 7, 2022. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse

BERLIN (Reuters) - German former Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday that she tried hard when she was in office to prevent the situation in Ukraine from developing to the current state, adding that she does not blame herself for not trying hard enough.

"It's a great sadness that it didn't work out, but I don't blame myself for not trying," said Merkel, speaking of the 2014 Minsk agreement with Russia. She spoke in a interview with German journalist and author Alexander Osang that was televised by broadcaster ARD.