Russia shuts German consulate as diplomatic freeze deepens

Moscow has ordered Germany’s consulate in St Petersburg to close by September 18, answering Berlin’s move against two Russian diplomatic facilities in Germany and exposing a sharp new freeze in relations between the two countries.

“

provoked a new round of escalation in bilateral relations

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said all diplomats and staff at the St Petersburg consulate must leave the country by the deadline. In a statement posted on Telegram, the ministry accused Germany of having “provoked a new round of escalation in bilateral relations” and bearing “full responsibility for the consequences.”

Berlin closed Russia’s consulate general in Bonn and the Russian House cultural centre in Berlin last week. Germany cited an attempted drone attack on Leipzig/Halle Airport, which it attributed to Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed the allegation, saying without providing details that the evidence had been “planted.”

“

full responsibility for the consequences

Moscow responded by ordering the closure of all Goethe-Institut branches in Russia, with their staff told to leave by Sunday. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov condemned Germany’s accusation and said it marked “the beginning of a real war.” He also compared Berlin’s measures with events preceding World War II, calling them “absolutely unacceptable” and accusing Germany of wanting “war again.”

“

the beginning of a real war

The consulate closure marks another low point in relations that have deteriorated since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Germany has become one of Ukraine’s strongest European supporters, allocating more than $50 billion in civilian aid and almost $67 billion in military assistance, according to its Foreign Ministry. Putin has repeatedly condemned Western support for Kyiv.

“

absolutely unacceptable