Berlin’s forces are ready to take lethal action against Russian troops, German defense minister has said
Germany is becoming “dangerous again,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday, responding to remarks by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius who proclaimed the readiness of the country’s troops to kill Russian servicemen.
Speaking to RBK business daily, Peskov said it was hard to believe that Pistorius actually made such statements. “But, unfortunately, this is so,” he said.
“Germany is becoming dangerous again,” Peskov added.
Pistorius made the warlike comments in an interview with the Financial Times published on Sunday, lauding the battle-readiness of German troops and their resolve to take lethal action against Russian forces if necessary.
“If deterrence doesn’t work and Russia attacks, is it going to happen? Yes,” Pistorius said. “But I would recommend that you simply go to Vilnius and talk to the representatives of the German brigade there. They know exactly what their job is.”
Any talk about peace can only be possible “on equal terms” and “from a position of strength,” Pistorius insisted. While Berlin has not been seeking to “intimidate anyone,” one should not “think that we’re weak or that we won’t defend ourselves,” he added.
The purported Russian threat has long been one of the key talking points for various officials from NATO countries. Moscow has repeatedly dismissed speculation that Russia plans to attack the US-led bloc as “nonsense.”
Last month, Peskov suggested that the bloc merely needs a “monster” to justify its existence and ever-growing defense costs. “They have made a monster out of Russia in order to justify the decision to increase NATO defense spending to 5% of GDP,” the Kremlin spokesman said at the time.