Germany's Merkel's legacy is being reevaluated in light of Putin's war in Europe.

• The ex-German chancellor was renowned for conversing in Russian and maintaining cordial relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
• During her tenure, Germany increased its energy ties with Moscow while maintaining low defense spending.

Political analysts are now reevaluating the complex relationship between Vladimir Putin and ex-German Chancellor Angela Merkel, as well as the extent of Moscow's influence over Europe, following Putin's unprovoked attack on Ukraine.

During her tenure, the previous German leader was recognized for her proficiency in Russian and maintaining cordial relations with Putin. Additionally, Germany intensified its energy connections to Moscow while keeping its military expenditure at a low level.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused a significant change in German politics.

According to Jacob Kirkegaard, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund think tank, the new Chancellor Olaf Scholz's "forceful policy shifts" represent a firm rejection of the core of Merkel's foreign economic policy.

Kirkegaard stated that Germany's foreign economic policy no longer relies on the assumption that Russia is a stable actor, but instead views it as an aggressive imperialist power.

Scholz put a stop to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline after Russia's initial military actions in two Ukrainian breakaway regions in late February. The project, initiated in 2018 under Merkel's leadership, aimed to bring more Russian gas to Germany through the Baltic Sea, bypassing countries like Ukraine and Poland.

Daniela Schwarzer, executive director for Europe and Eurasia at the Open Society Foundations think tank, stated that Merkel's "big failure" was not undoing those economic ties and energy projects following Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Despite opposition from Ukraine and other countries, including the U.S., Merkel maintained her support for the gas pipeline, and the German chancellery did not respond to CNBC's request for comment on the matter.

In 2010, Germany's gas imports from Russia accounted for approximately 36% of its total, while by 2020, this had increased to about 65%. (Source: Eurostat)

Germany, led by Chancellor Angela Merkel, has minimized Russia's defiance against the global order less than any other country, according to EU law professor Alberto Alemanno of H.E.C. Paris Business School.

Alemanno stated that Nord Stream 2 represents Merkel's appeasement approach towards Russia, which has become the embodiment of Germany's flawed stance towards Russia. By creating an unneeded dependence on Putin, Merkel's Germany has made him more powerful while weakening the entirety of Europe and NATO.

Scholz initially kept a cautious stance on Nord Stream 2, but as tensions with Russia intensified, he announced a halt on the pipeline's certification, as many political analysts had predicted.

Scholz announced that Germany would be sending weapons to Ukraine and increasing defense investments, marking a significant change in its post-World War II policy of not exporting locally made weapons to conflict zones.

Schwarzer stated that Merkel underestimated the need for increased spending on NATO and the EU. He pointed out that while some of the additional funds are being used for a new strategy, a significant portion is simply acknowledging the need to do more due to the poor state of the German army.

Open door to refugees

Despite her legacy being challenged in other areas, Merkel's stance on welcoming refugees remains unchanged. In 2015, during a peak refugee crisis in Europe, she implemented an open-door policy to those fleeing war from countries like Syria.

Schwarzer from Open Society Foundations stated that Merkel's clear and open stance on Syrian refugees sparked significant societal engagement in Germany, and this policy now extends to the reception of Ukrainian refugees.

Over 2 million individuals have left Ukraine, with most seeking refuge in neighboring countries. However, some have journeyed to Germany, where the locals have provided assistance and accommodation.

Schwarzer stated that Merkel's legacy remained intact, particularly in the West, where she was viewed as the de-facto leader during Trump's presidency. Critics noted that America's global standing diminished under Trump's leadership.

Scholz has built on the idea of responsibility, saying things in a more concrete manner, according to Schwarzer. She added that this sense of responsibility is a continuity.