Reference News, July 24 report - According to Reuters, on July 24, Russia accused German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of taking a "militarized" path and said this is a cause for concern.
The report stated that Merz, who took office in May this year, has taken a more proactive stance on supporting Ukraine compared to his Social Democratic predecessor Olaf Scholz, and pledged to increase pressure on Russia on the issue of the conflict in Ukraine.
Shortly after becoming chancellor, he visited Kyiv and supported Ukraine's right to launch long-range missiles into Russian territory.
Under Merz's leadership, Germany plans to rapidly increase its defense spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2029, while it only achieved the NATO target of 2% in 2024.
Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said at her weekly press briefing that Germany has pursued an open anti-Russian policy in recent years, and Merz "almost daily" intensifies his anti-Russian rhetoric.
Zakharova said: "This rhetoric is becoming increasingly radical. We believe that he is escalating relations with Russia while enforcing militarization in Germany. The path he has chosen is a major cause for concern, first and foremost for the citizens of Germany themselves." (Translated by Liu Xiaoyan)
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