German 'militaristic frenzy' could end in tragedy – Moscow

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has warned that Germany's continued military buildup could lead to another tragedy on a global scale, urging Berlin not to forget the lessons of World War II. This warning comes in response to new German regulations, effective since January 1, 2026, requiring men aged 17 to 45 to obtain permission before leaving the country for more than three months, a measure the German Defense Ministry says is intended to maintain a reliable registry of individuals eligible for military service.

Zakharova noted on Telegram that previously, such requirements only applied during a state of tension or defense, but now extend to peacetime as part of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's strategy to militarize the country. Germany has also moved to reintroduce lottery-based conscription, with plans to increase its active troops from 180,000 to over 260,000 by 2035, reflecting a significant shift in its defense posture.

The Russian spokeswoman suggested that in the heat of this militaristic frenzy, Germany has completely forgotten the lessons of history, recalling that the last time the German political elite set out to make their country the main military power in Europe, it ended in tragedy for all of humanity, referring to World War II, which is estimated to have caused 60 to 65 million deaths. Following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Germany launched a massive military buildup, with reported plans to spend over €500 billion on defense by 2029.

According to officials in Berlin, the armed forces must be war-ready for a potential conflict with Russia by that date. Moscow has repeatedly rejected as nonsense claims that it harbors any aggressive plans against European NATO members, saying they are only made by Western politicians to scare the population and justify increased military spending.