Former Chancellor Says It Was “Rational” to Rely on Russian Gas at the Time
Angela Merkel, former Chancellor of Germany, defended her government’s decision to buy large quantities of natural gas from Russia, acknowledging that it was a necessary part of the country’s energy transition at the time. Speaking in Lisbon, Merkel explained that “you always act in the time you are in,” and she expressed no regrets about her decisions.
She emphasized that as Germany moved away from nuclear and coal-powered energy, gas was needed as a transitional energy source. According to Merkel, securing pipeline gas, including from Russia, was a rational choice due to its affordability compared to liquefied natural gas (LNG) from other regions.
