Germany warns Russia tensions could spiral into violent conflict
“We have no intention of attacking anyone – whether in 2029, 2030 or 2050 – but if we are subjected to aggression, we will have no choice but to respond.
Martin Jaeger, head of the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), told lawmakers at the annual public hearing of intelligence chiefs in parliament that the confrontation with Russia had entered a more dangerous phase, according to news agency Reuters. “The confrontation we are facing with Russia has taken on a new, more dangerous dimension,” Jaeger said. Jaeger said Germany had “become a major obstacle to Russia’s projection of hegemonic power in Europe — and, consequently, a target of Russian actions”. He said the BND currently sees “no indication” of plans for a major Russian military attack on a NATO member. However, he warned that “low-level Russian military activities could occur, particularly in the Baltic states”. “We are not threatening anyone,” Russian president Vladimir Putin said on Thursday. “If Russia is not stopped, its war machine will sooner or later turn against us,” Merz said, adding: “You can continue to count on our help. These are daily war crimes,” Merz said at the site, while calling on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war. Russia’s foreign ministry, meanwhile, has said it would continue carrying out “mass retaliatory strikes” on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.
“These barbaric attacks on the civilian population of Ukraine must stop.