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Members of the audience wait to witness former German Chancellor Angela Merkel in conversation with journalist Alexander Osang on stage at the Berliner Ensemble theatre on June 07, 2022 in Berlin, Germany. Today's is Merkel's first public engagement since stepping down as chancellor following German federal elections late last year. Merkel alined Germany into a close economic relationship with Russia over the course of her chancellorship in the belief that an interdependence would help integrate Russia as a stabile and constructive partner. Russia's military invasion of Ukraine in February has upended that strategy, leading many historians to now question Merkel's apparent trust in Russian President Vladimir Putin. Get premium, high resolution news photos at getty