Gerhard Schröder's Russia policy was continued for 16 years under Angela Merkel despite warnings from the intelligence services, Katja Gloger said Germany's attempts to achieve “change through trade” by doing business with Vladimir Putin were a mistake based on the Russian leader's friendship with Gerhard Schröder and undue optimism from Angela Merkel, German journalist and author Katja Gloger has told TVP World. Katja Gloger covered Russia for Stern magazine for over three decades and was one of the first Western correspondents to interview and closely shadow Vladimir Putin. Her experiences with the Russian leader in the early 2000s formed the basis of an investigative book titled The Failure, which she co-authored with German investigative journalist Georg Mascolo. She spoke to TVP World's Adam Jasser on TVP World’s On the Record, describing her impressions of Putin almost a quarter of a century ago. Gloger said that at the time, many people in Germany believed or “fell into the illusion” that Putin was a progressive reformer and “a man who really wanted to... put his country on a democratic track” by trying to learn from “good examples” such as Germany. She went on to say that Putin has always been good at public relations and invited German journalists in a bid to “present himself... as someone who really wanted to integrate into the West.” But at the same time “everyone knew he was an ex-KGB guy based in East Germany who did not hide his nostalgia for the Soviet Union,” she said. 'Serious warnings' Gloger acknowledged that there were “serious warnings” from German intelligence services but that “the political decision was made to try to establish a friendly and long-lasting, stable relationship [with] Putin's Russia.” Gloger said this policy was initially based on a personal friendship between then-Chancellor Gerhard Schröder but was later pursued by Angela Merkel throughout her 16 years at the country's helm. She said this was largely due to “wishful thinking” not just by Merkel but by the “establishment [and] political class.” “Wishful thinking that with our concept of the so-called modernization partnership that through economical relationship and through 'change through trade'… you can contribute to change, to more rule of law, to more participation of the citizens, and that then, by time, reforms might be even possible.” All that changed with Putin's invasion of Ukraine, Gloger said. “I think the shock and horror of February 24th, ‘22 was really big and it changed the perception of Putin and Russia, especially of Vladimir Putin, for the majority of the country almost overnight,” she said.
