German leader Scholz pays tribute to 'courageous' Gorbachev

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday called Mikhail Gorbachev "a statesman who dared many things", but died at a time Russia "was drawing new trenches in Europe."

Gorbachev, who set out to revitalize the Soviet Union but ended up unleashing forces that led to the collapse of communism, the breakup of the state and the end of the Cold War, died Tuesday. The last Soviet leader was 91.

Soon after taking power, Gorbachev began a campaign to end his country’s economic and political stagnation, using “glasnost,” or openness, to help achieve his goal of “perestroika,” or restructuring.

Under Gorbachev, the Berlin Wall crumbled, thousands of political prisoners were released and millions of people who had known only communism got their first real taste of freedom.

But he was unable to control the forces he unleashed — and ultimately waged a losing battle to salvage a crumbling empire.

"We will not forget that perestroika made it possible to try to establish democracy in Russia and that democracy and freedom became possible in Europe, that Germany could be united and the Iron Curtain disappeared," Scholz told reporters in Berlin.

However, Scholz also pointed out that Gorbachev died at a time when many of his achievements have been undermined by current President Vladimir Putin.