On Monday, the Kremlin asserted that a purported recording revealed discussions within the German military about plans to launch strikes on Russian territory. Additionally, they raised concerns about Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s control over the situation.
Russian media recently released an audio recording purportedly capturing a meeting among senior German military officials discussing arming Ukraine and a potential strike by Kyiv on a bridge in Crimea. This led Russian officials to call for an explanation.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remarked, “The recording itself indicates substantive and concrete discussions within the Bundeswehr about launching strikes on Russian territory. This doesn’t necessitate legal interpretation. The situation is abundantly clear.”
Germany has announced an investigation into the recording, while Russia has summoned Germany’s ambassador to request clarification.
Mr. Peskov expressed the need to determine whether the Bundeswehr acted independently in these discussions. He raised questions about the extent of control over the Bundeswehr and Chancellor Scholz’s influence on the situation. He also pondered whether these actions align with German government policy, noting that both scenarios would reflect poorly. Peskov emphasized that both scenarios underscore the direct involvement of Western countries in the conflict surrounding Ukraine.
Germany, a NATO member, has provided weaponry to Ukraine, including tanks. Russia accuses the “collective West” of using Ukraine as a proxy in its conflict against Russia, while NATO argues it’s assisting Kyiv in defending itself against aggression.
