German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of conducting a “hybrid war” against Germany, saying Moscow’s campaign extends beyond Ukraine to target all of Europe.
“He is waging an information war against us. He is waging a military war against Ukraine and this war is directed against all of us,” Merz told broadcaster NTV on Monday.
He said Putin aims to undermine Europe’s political order and that supporting Ukraine is in Germany’s interest to defend open, liberal societies.
Asked whether Putin was waging war on Germany, Merz replied: “He is waging a hybrid war against us.”
The chancellor linked recent drone incidents across Europe to Russian intimidation efforts, saying, “We will not be intimidated and we will defend ourselves effectively.”
Merz said he is considering speaking directly with Putin but noted that “every attempt to talk to him at the moment is ending in even tougher attacks on Ukraine.”
He added that he had a heated exchange with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at last week’s EU meeting in Copenhagen after Orban accused Germany of avoiding negotiations.
Merz said he reminded Orban that Putin responded to his own visits to Kyiv and Moscow last year by bombing a children’s hospital in Kyiv./DW/
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