Angela Merkel’s Peacebuilding Strategy in the Ukraine Crisis (2014–2021)

In contemporary complex conflicts, peace rarely results from a sudden agreement but rather emerges through a gradual and multilayered process involving diplomatic mediation, political leadership, international institutions, and economic instruments. The Ukraine crisis exemplifies such a conflict, where management relied largely on multilateral diplomacy and dialogue rather than military dominance. In this context, Angela Merkel played a key role in leading Germany’s diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and advance peacebuilding. This study examines how Merkel contributed to the peacebuilding process in the Ukraine crisis. It argues that within an international system shaped by great‑power competition and conflicting interests, Merkel faced significant constraints in the security sphere, which limited the prospects for stable arrangements. Nevertheless, through economic instruments and interdependent networks between Europe and Eurasia, she was able to facilitate aspects of crisis management. Germany’s mediation under Merkel emphasized dialogue, gradual confidence‑building, and multilateral frameworks, contributing to mechanisms such as the Minsk Agreements and sustaining negotiations. However, geopolitical divisions and the security dilemma prevented a durable peace, leaving diplomatic efforts largely confined to the temporary containment of the conflict.