Zakharova claims incoming German chancellor is threat to globe

(MENAFN)
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has raised concerns that Germany's incoming chancellor, Friedrich Merz, could lead the country back into a dangerous historical path. Zakharova's remarks followed a report from Bild, which stated that in an Easter address, Merz plans to pledge that "Germany will again assume responsibility – in Europe and in the world," emphasizing a cooperative and humble approach.

Zakharova humorously questioned which historical period Merz’s use of "again" refers to in her Telegram post. Merz, who is set to take office as chancellor on May 6, recently stated in an interview that he would consider supplying Taurus missiles to Ukraine, a weapon with a range of 500 kilometers. This is a shift from the stance of his predecessor, Olaf Scholz, who has rejected Ukraine’s requests for the missiles due to concerns about escalating the conflict.

Merz's comment about potentially providing Ukraine with Taurus missiles drew caution from Matthias Miersch, leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), who expressed hope that Merz, once fully briefed by intelligence agencies, would reconsider the decision to avoid escalating the war.

Zakharova, responding to Merz’s comments, warned that providing Taurus missiles to Ukraine could lead to Germany's direct involvement in military operations. She pointed out that launching such missiles would require Bundeswehr personnel, meaning any strikes on Russian infrastructure or facilities could be seen as direct German participation in the conflict. Russia's ambassador to Germany, Sergey Nechaev, echoed similar concerns, stating that while the missiles wouldn't alter the battlefield dynamics, their delivery could escalate the conflict and provoke retaliation from Moscow. Throughout the Ukraine war, Russia has consistently criticized Western military support for Kiev, arguing that it only prolongs the bloodshed.

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