By that time Russia already invaded large chunks of Ukraine and their rhetoric "that country/nation should not exist at all" was pervasive. So any delusions of

By that time Russia already invaded large chunks of Ukraine and their rhetoric "that country/nation should not exist at all" was pervasive. So any delusions of avoiding further escalation were just that, delusions. Germans have big blind spot toward Russia even today, Merkel had little chances to change it even if she wanted.