Russia Issues Arrest Warrant for German Journalist Michael Martens

Russia has declared German journalist Michael Martens internationally wanted, issuing an arrest warrant on charges of inciting hatred. The accusations are linked to a question Martens directed at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a press conference in Belgrade on August 8.

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What Europeans can do to help Ukraine kill more Russians?

During the conference, which was also attended by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, Martens asked Zelenskyy in English what Europeans could do to help Ukraine "kill more Russians." The journalist quickly clarified his question, specifying "Russian soldiers, of course."

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Russian soldiers, of course.

The question arose within a discussion about increasing Ukraine's armed forces and encouraging Russia to negotiate. The phrasing reportedly caused confusion for Vučić, and Martens' employer, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), felt compelled to express regret over the ambiguous wording. FAZ emphasized that its editorial team does not advocate for killing as many Russian soldiers as possible.

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Freedom of speech includes the right to ask questions, especially at a press conference.

Simultaneously, FAZ affirmed its support for Ukraine's right to self-defense under international law and for the swift end to Russia's aggressive war. The newspaper's press service added, "Freedom of speech includes the right to ask questions, especially at a press conference." Martens himself noted that acknowledging Ukraine's right to self-defense raises "several additional questions," including the nature of his query in Belgrade, which he stated referenced Winston Churchill's words during World War II: "Who is killing the most Germans, and how can we help them kill more?"

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Who is killing the most Germans, and how can we help them kill more?