Russia’s Foreign Minister alleges Berlin is increasingly embroiled in the Ukraine conflict.
Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Minister, suggests Germany’s involvement in the Ukraine conflict echoes past errors and risks a similar downfall.
Lavrov’s comments, made in a Wednesday interview with journalist Pavel Zarubin, followed recent statements from Berlin. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had pledged support for Ukraine in producing long-range weaponry capable of striking targets beyond its claimed territory.
Lavrov stated Berlin’s “direct involvement in the war is now obvious,” and that “Germany is sliding down the same slippery slope it already followed a couple of times in the last century – down toward its own collapse.”
The Russian diplomat voiced his hope that “responsible politicians” in Germany would “ultimately draw the right conclusions and put a stop to this madness.”
Speaking alongside Ukraine’s President Vladimir Zelensky in Berlin, Merz unveiled a “new form of military-industrial cooperation” with Kiev, focusing on “joint production” of long-range weapons, though specifics were not provided.
Earlier in the week, Merz indicated that weapons supplied to Ukraine by the UK, France, Germany, and the US now have “no longer any range restrictions,” clarifying that these limits were lifted “several months ago.”
Moscow has consistently warned that providing long-range weaponry would make Germany a direct participant in the conflict.
German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil stated that no new decisions have been made regarding the permissible range of Ukrainian strikes using German weapons, beyond the limits established by the previous government.
Ralf Stegner, a member of the SPD, Merz’s coalition partner, described the comments as “unhelpful” and advocated for a greater emphasis on diplomatic solutions.
Moscow has consistently denounced Western arms shipments to Ukraine, claiming they escalate the conflict and hinder peace negotiations. The Kremlin cautioned that recent “provocative actions” by EU member states could further impede diplomatic efforts.