Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov Condemns German Chancellor's Military Plans and Leipzig Actions

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov condemned German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's plans to build up military power and Berlin's response to an explosive drone incident in Leipzig, calling them a factual declaration of war.

Key points

• Germany directly blamed Russia for a hybrid attack involving an explosive drone at the Leipzig airport in early August and enacted retaliatory measures, including closing the general consulate in Bonn and the Russian House in Berlin.
• Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that historical lessons have been forgotten and that dangerous Nazi ideas are experiencing a resurgence in Europe.
• Separately, Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov reported that U.S. special envoys Steve Whitkoff and Jared Kushner held meetings in Moscow to discuss the conflict and potential economic projects.

Why it matters

The sharp escalation in rhetoric between Moscow and Berlin, triggered by European counter-measures against hybrid sabotage claims, marks a critical deterioration in Russia-Germany relations amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.