11/07/2025November 7, 2025Former German foreign minister admits major misjudgment on Putin
Germany’s former foreign ministerSigmar Gabriel has called his misjudgment of Russian President Vladimir Putin a major error.
Testifying Friday before a state inquiry in Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania, Gabriel said he and others underestimated Moscow’s intentions. The committee is investigating possible Russian influence over a regional foundation linked to the Nord Stream gas pipelines.
Misjudging Putin and his intentions was “one of the biggest mistakes in German foreign policy that I have been involved in,” Gabriel, from the center-left Social Democrats, said. He added that it had been “a bitter realization.”
Gabriel, who served under former chancellor Angela Merkel from 2013 to 2018, denied that the federal government had closely coordinated with the foundation but acknowledged serious errors in handling relations with Russia.
The foundation acted as a buffer, allowing contractors to continue work indirectly, without being exposed to US sanctions.
Gabriel also defended the government’s earlier decision to continue with the Nord Stream 2 project after Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, arguing that halting construction could have undermined diplomatic talks.
The Nord Stream pipelines were built to deliver Russian gas to Europe through Germany. Nord Stream 2’s parallel pipelines were never activated, while supplies through the two Nord Stream 1 conduits stopped after Western sanctions. Three of the four pipelines were later damaged by explosions in 2022, with one of the Nord Stream 2 ones remaining intact but unused.
Former chancellor Olaf Scholz is expected to testify before the inquiry on November 21, with the panel set to release its findings next year.
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