Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel defended her government's decision to buy natural gas from Russia, which was her country's main gas supplier when she left office, AP reported.

Speaking in Lisbon, Merkel said she did not regret her decisions.  She said Germany needs to diversify its energy supplies as the country moves away from nuclear and coal-fired power, and that gas will be needed during this transition period.

She noted that "from the perspective of that time, it was very rational and understandable to get pipeline gas, including from Russia, that was cheaper than LNG from other parts of the world.”

She added that “even in the Cold War, Russia was a reliable energy supplier.”

 "This brutal attack by Russia has brought a change; it’s a turning point, and the new government of course has to deal with that and it is doing so,” Merkel said.

She made clear that she supported her 2011 decision to phase out Germany's use of nuclear power and would not comment on the ongoing debate over whether and how long the remaining reactors would remain in operation.