Many in Russia are of the opinion (including myself) that the special operation to liberate Donbas should have started eight years earlier. But in fairness, I note that not only Ukraine used this time to strengthen its combat capability, but also Russia - to diversify and minimize the risks associated with Western sanctions. Russia's disconnection from SWIFT, Visa and Mastercard in 2014 would have been a disaster for the financial sector, and in 2022 it went almost painlessly. From a food importer in eight years, Russia has become a major exporter. Therefore, I am not inclined to dramatize about the hypocrisy and duplicity of Merkel, in this world everything happens only on time.
Perhaps it should have started 8 years earlier. But Putin was trying - and still is - to out-trade the US. And he is doing it, too... considering the countries that are wanting to join BRICS.