Following the exchange of views between Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President François Hollande and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday evening, her audience was particularly interested in the conflict in Ukraine.

It is uncertain whether or not these talks will be successful, declared Angela Merkel. But François Hollande and she are convinced that it is well worth making the effort. "I believe that we owe it to the suffering people in Ukraine at the very least."

Russia has violated the peace order put in place in the wake of the Second World War, she said, and underlined the importance of this order at the very start of her speech. The territorial integrity of Ukraine has been violated by Russia, along with the sovereignty of the nations – international law has been contravened. These actions are in clear contravention of the Helsinki Final Act, stressed the Chancellor.

Shaping security together

"This is why we in the EU and our transatlantic partners have been stating plainly that policies aiming to bring about a violent change to borders within Europe have no place in the 21st century." Nobody, said Angela Merkel, can be interested in any new division of Europe, and certainly not in a confrontation with the risk of uncontrollable escalation.

"We want to forge security in Europe with Russia, not against Russia," stressed Angela Merkel. This is true of the European and transatlantic security order, but also when it comes to facing international challenges from the dissemination of weapons of mass destruction to fighting international terrorism.

Breathing life into the Minsk Protocol

In this context, Angela Merkel underlined the importance of the international order. This, however, presupposes that all parties are willing to respect the fundamental principles that underpin this order. In this context Russia must do its bit in the Ukraine crisis too.

"This crisis cannot be resolved using military means," stressed the Chancellor. In the subsequent discussion Angela Merkel rejected the proposal of supplying weapons to Ukraine. More weapons cannot bring the progress that Ukraine needs, she underlined.

"Any country aiming to ensure security, stability and the wellbeing of its people in the long term, must accept the rules of the international community and act as part of this community. We in Europe will always work with out partners to uphold our values and the European peace order," continued Angela Merkel in her speech.

Special role of the OSCE

The Chancellor pointed to the important roles played by NATO, and more particularly the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Over the last year the OSCE has more than proved its worth as a forum for dialogue and confidence-building in Europe.

If we are to return to confidence-building and cooperation it will be crucial for all participating states to confirm their commitment to the principles of the OSCE "in words and in deeds", said Angela Merkel.

Advocate of free trade agreement

The Chancellor also believes that the integration of economic interests is an important factor in resolving conflicts. She termed protectionism and isolation "failed recipes of the past". They have no place in our time, marked as it is by free trade agreements.

"That is why we on the German side will work with all our might to bring about the free trade agreement with the United States of America because we do not want to stand by and watch as the entire Asian region concludes one free trade agreement after another while Europe falls further and further behind," declared Angela Merkel.

In this context the Chancellor underlined the long-term goal of creating a single economic area from Vladivostok to Lisbon and on to Vancouver. The Chancellor supports the necessary talks between the European Commission and the Eurasian Union. The precondition for the necessary talks and of course for success is that an end be found to the Ukraine crisis on the basis of international law, she added.

Fighting Islamist terrorism

Of the many and varied conflicts in the world the Chancellor singled out the situation in Syria, Iraq and Nigeria for special mention. "The implosion of the state order in Syria has had dramatic impacts across the region. The terrorist Islamic State threatens the stability of Syria, Iraq and the entire region. IS pursues and murders all those who are unwilling to subjugate themselves to its will to dominate, and it acts across national borders."

Similar phenomena can currently be seen in West Africa, she continued, where Boko Haram is exploiting the weak state structures and harnessing the resent fuelled by the actual or perceived disadvantages suffered by large sections of the population. It is tyrannising innocent people beyond the borders of Nigeria and perpetrating barbaric acts of terrorism.

Angela Merkel welcomed the fact that the international community including numerous Arab and Muslim states have determinedly condemned these murders. Germany will continue to use its G7 Presidency to do all it can to cut off the flows of finance and fighters for international terrorism, assured the Chancellor.

Continuing international support for Afghanistan

Commenting on the situation in Afghanistan Angela Merkel said, "We have achieved our most important objective – today Afghanistan no longer harbours an international terrorist threat." The everyday security situation for the people of Afghanistan is anything but satisfactory, though, she said. Corruption and the drugs industry have not been adequately stamped out and there is still no genuine reconciliation process.

That is why everything must be done to preserve what has been achieved and take this further. "The Afghan security sector will continue to need international support beyond 2016, and not only financial support," declared Angela Merkel with conviction.