Former German chancellor Angela Merkel, whose conciliatory approaches toward the Kremlin throughout her tenure as chancellor have been criticized, slammed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Friday.

Merkel, who left politics in December after 16 years at the helm of Europe’s largest economy, said she was “watching with with worry and sorrow” the “assault on the territorial integrity and sovereignty” of Ukraine.

“After the conclusion of the Cold Campaign, Russia’s war of aggression signals a fundamental turning point in European history,” she said in a statement.

Merkel said there was “no justification” for what she called a “blatant violation of international law,” which she “strongly denounced.”

Former German chancellor Angela Merkel, whose conciliatory approaches toward the Kremlin throughout her tenure as chancellor have been criticized, slammed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Friday.

Merkel, who left politics in December after 16 years at the helm of Europe’s largest economy, said she was “watching with with worry and sorrow” the “assault on the territorial integrity and sovereignty” of Ukraine.

“After the conclusion of the Cold Campaign, Russia’s war of aggression signals a fundamental turning point in European history,” she said in a statement.

Merkel said there was “no justification” for what she called a “blatant violation of international law,” which she “strongly denounced.”