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🇦🇹 Austria /Elections & Politics

Putin After German Sanctions: Merz “Does Not Have the Trust of His Citizens”

From Die Presse · () German

Translated from German and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Analysis Named sources Ongoing story
  • Russia threatened a “hard and adequate” response after Germany blamed Moscow for a drone incident at Leipzig airport and announced sanctions.
  • Russian officials raised possible closures of the Goethe-Institut and Germany’s consulate in St. Petersburg, while Dmitry Medvedev and another lawmaker issued threats against German facilities.
  • Vladimir Putin said Chancellor Friedrich Merz lacked public trust and linked Germany’s response to domestic politics and upcoming state elections.

Moscow took time to respond to Germany’s sanctions, but when the reaction came, it was severe. Government spokeswoman Maria Zakharova promised a “hard and adequate” response and accused Berlin of fueling the Ukraine conflict and participating in attacks against peaceful people.

Hard and adequate

— Maria ZakharovaThe Russian government spokeswoman described the response Moscow would take to German sanctions.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul had blamed Russia for the drone incident at Leipzig airport and announced punitive measures. Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko then raised the possibility of closing the Goethe-Institut and the German consulate in St. Petersburg. Further countermeasures could follow, including over Berlin’s planned tightening of visa rules.

Former Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev used Telegram to describe Germany’s leadership as “neo-Nazi” and “bitterly Russophobic.” He called the alleged sabotage fabricated and said it represented only “the mildest form of punishment for their sins.” Medvedev also threatened German production facilities supplying military equipment to Ukraine and referred to “certain other places in Berlin.” Duma lawmaker Alexey Zhuravlyov separately called for German factories to be bombed.

Neo-Nazi

— Dmitry MedvedevHe used the term to describe the course of Germany’s leadership.

The threats and denials fit what the article describes as the psychological arsenal of hybrid warfare. Zakharova denied Russian involvement in the unknown drones at Leipzig airport, saying the Germans had invented the story and planned it to create grounds for action against the consulate and German House.

The mildest form of punishment for their sins

— Dmitry MedvedevHe described the alleged sabotage while issuing threats against German facilities.

Putin adopted a less confrontational tone at a news conference in Bishkek. He said Germany’s response was driven mainly by domestic politics and argued that Merz did not have the trust of German citizens. Putin claimed the chancellor was not defending Germany’s interests, while German companies were forced to close, people were losing jobs and living standards were falling. Moscow also views the confrontation through the lens of state elections in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and the AfD’s growing prospects.

He does not have the trust of his citizens

— Vladimir PutinPutin criticized Chancellor Friedrich Merz while discussing Germany’s response.
About this summary

Originally published by Die Presse in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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