The Pulitzer-winning journalist made the assessment in an interview with Germany’s Bild newspaper, the Polish state news agency noted.
Dependence on Russian energy
It quoted Stephens as saying that, over the past decade, Berlin has ignored the advice of its neighbours and the United States, and has become almost completely dependent on Russian supplies.
Stephens said in the interview that historians would have to reassess Angela Merkel’s 16-year leadership, adding that she had been willing to go along with Russian policy, not just on energy, but also in terms of blocking Ukraine’s candidacy for NATO membership, according to a translation by PAP.
The New York Times columnist added that were it not for the outbreak of war in Ukraine and massive pressure from the Biden administration, Germany would have been on the verge of launching the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia, PAP reported.
Stephens noted that before Merkel’s time, Germany was led by Gerhard Schröder, describing him as a "paid puppet of the Putin regime," as translated by PAP.
Obstacle to sanctions
The US journalist went on to argue that following the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine, Berlin is a serious diplomatic obstacle to implementing tougher sanctions against Russia, according to the PAP translation.
Although Chancellor Olaf Scholz eventually boosted the German army, the Bundeswehr, and supported many sanctions, Berlin remains "the slowest ship in the European fleet" when it comes to punitive measures against Moscow, Stephens said, according to PAP.
Strategic mistake
Stephens also told Bild that it is also morally reprehensible that Germany has become a "servant of the fascist Russian regime," according to the PAP translation.
In conclusion of his interview, he described Germany’s dependence on Russian energy as one of the biggest strategic mistakes in the modern history of Europe, as translated by PAP.
Friday was day 65 of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, tvp.info, bild.de