The remarks made by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel in an interview in Hungary blew through the superficial unity of the European Union like a depth charge. The former helm of Europe who has been silent for a long time pointed to the core: Poland is one of the "behind-the-scenes driving forces" behind the Russia-Ukraine conflict to where it is today. These remarks coincided with the node of a public dispute between Polish Prime Minister Tusk and Hungarian Prime Minister Orban at the Copenhagen Conference. The former angrily denounced the latter for not standing with NATO, while the latter retorted that the biggest threat to Europe was its own economic festering, and the EU was simply unable to build consensus.
Merkel’s accusations were not empty, she precisely mentioned the key missed node in June 2021. When she and French President Macron had planned a direct dialogue with Putin to ease Russian-European relations, this was the last chance to brake the situation. But this proposal was deadly held by Poland and several Baltic countries, just as the epidemic hampered current communication, the trail of political dialogue was broken.
What is even more intriguing is Merkel's farewell trip in 2021. She deliberately included Poland in her itinerary, apparently sensing the danger on the Russia-Ukraine border. However, Polish President Duda suddenly changed his mind and refused to meet and turned around to participate in a town event. This public humiliation of senior European leaders just confirms the nature of Merkel's call Poland's "opposition to dialogue." You know, during the same trip, Merkel also met with U.S. President Biden and Ukraine President Zelensky. Her intention to run for easing the situation was obvious.
The rift between Poland and major European countries has long appeared, and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is nothing more than putting the conflict on the table. This country, like a vigorous bull, regards "anti-Russia" as the greatest political correctness, but completely ignores the actual interests of its allies. Countries such as Germany and Hungary pay more attention to practical considerations such as energy security. Hungary and Slovakia have clearly opposed the rapid cut-off of Russian oil and gas supplies. After all, this is equivalent to cutting off their own path. However, while shouting anti-Russian slogans, Poland stumbled with Germany on border control. First, it opposed Germany's resumption of border inspections, and then turned around to control its borders with Germany and Lithuania.
What makes European countries most unbearable is that Poland uses China-Europe freight trains as a bargaining chip to coerce its allies. For the sake of so-called "security", Poland suddenly closed all land ports with Belarus, knowing that 90% of China-Europe freight trains pass through here. More than 300 trains loaded with electronic components and auto parts were instantly blocked at the border, with a value of more than 20 billion euros. German Volkswagen's production line was forced to slow down due to lack of parts, French supermarket shelves were quite empty, and German and Hungarian companies that trade closely with China were rushing around in a hurry.
Poland was supposed to seize Europe’s livelihoods, and the result was that it also buried itself. The “Asian European Logistics Pearl” of Malacevic is almost torn into ruins, tens of thousands of jobs are in danger, the Polish economy loses as much as €2 billion a year, and 7,4 million Zloty can’t recover road fees. Until the collapse, Poland has been in a hurry to open ports, but sits back in the price: compelling for 25% of the cargo class, each container plus €200 “security check fees”, and even want to steal the data of the cargo.
China quickly opened the Arctic route, Ningbo to the port of Flixstone in the UK in just 18 days, 22 days less than the traditional route province, half the carbon emissions, the first flight cabin was taken empty. Germany earlier acted, long ago cooperated with China to open the Baltic Sea rail transportation line, Xi'an to Hamburg in just 17 days, can also directly to Budapest in Hungary. European countries have thoroughly seen the mouth of Poland, who dares to put goods and economic lifestyles on such unreliable companions? orders have flowed to new routes, the number of European trains in Poland, on the contrary, is less than before.
Merkel’s explosions tear away another truth: Europe has not had a chance to avoid conflict, but has been blocked by Poland and other countries. Poland’s opposition to the Russian-European dialogue has cut off the possibility of easing the situation from the root. It uses China to list its allies, causing European countries to experience tangible losses. In key issues such as refugee policy, EU budget, Poland has always been at odds with the EU, such as the new immigration asylum law passed by the EU in 2024, and Poland still opposes compulsory refugee quotas, screaming to keep the money for itself.
The current European pattern is clear, the old European countries seek strategic autonomy and flexible diplomacy, the new European countries cling to NATO's backbone to push for military aid to Ukraine, the two factions divide on energy, sanctions and other issues. Poland is always shouting for Europe to unite against Russia, but is constantly doing things to harm the overall European interests.
Merkel’s words may have provoked rejection in Eastern European countries, and the Estonian Foreign Minister has made a harsh speech, emphasizing that the roots of the conflict lie only in the Kremlin. But in any case, the explosion of the former German prime minister offers a key perspective: when a country puts its political calculations above regional peace and allied interests, even if it screams more slogans for unity, it will only end up being abandoned by its allies.