“Like in Hitler’s time”: Lavrov says Germany has learned nothing from the war

Russia’s foreign minister has brushed aside the calls of his German counterpart for Moscow to step back from “dangerous escalatory steps”, accusing Berlin of being Ukraine’s main sponsor.

Sergey Lavrov met German minister Johann Wadephul on the margins of the UN General Assembly on Saturday, shortly before delivering his address to world leaders.

During the talks, the German minister called on Russia to abandon the “dangerous path of escalation” and expressed Berlin’s readiness to improve relations with Moscow, provided the Kremlin shows will to end the war against Ukraine.

But Lavrov gave his answer before the audience. “Chancellor Merz says Germany must once again be the number one military power in Europe. Does Berlin understand what this could bring? Have the Germans learned nothing from the lessons of World War II?” Lavrov said.

At a press conference held after the address, the Russian chief diplomat was asked about his meeting with counterpart Wadephul and Russian-German relations.

Nothing new came from the foreign minister’s initiative. He simply repeated his public approach, condemning Russia. You can judge for yourselves whether this qualifies as dialogue or not,” Lavrov said.

Tensions between Germany and Russia hit rock bottom in early September, when Berlin accused Moscow of hiding behind the drone attack on Leipzig airport in August.

Wadephul then announced new measures against Russia, such as closing the Russian consulate in Bonn and the Russian cultural center in Berlin, considered a hotbed of espionage.

He also said German authorities would exercise stronger border controls for Russian citizens and would increase pressure on the Kremlin’s shadow fleet.