Former Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) warns against dismissing threats in the Russian war against Ukraine as a bluff. The attack on Ukraine was a "profound turning point," said Merkel on Thursday evening at a ceremony marking the 77th anniversary of the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" in Munich. And one where "we are all well advised to take words seriously and deal with them seriously and not classify them as bluffs from the outset". She again emphasized that a lasting peace in Europe could only come about with the involvement of Russia. "As long as we haven't really managed to do that, the Cold War isn't really over either."

The 68-year-old Merkel did not run for the federal elections last year after 16 years as chancellor. She now appears as a speaker from time to time - including in September at the city anniversary in Goslar - and wants to publish her memoirs in autumn 2024, as her publisher recently announced.