Merz warns Russia preparing for aggression beyond Ukraine, says hybrid war already underway
Russia is preparing for further aggression that could target the Baltic states, Moldova, and other parts of Europe, while NATO continues to maintain a sufficient level of deterrence.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said this at a press conference in Berlin on Wednesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
“We see clear evidence that Russia is preparing for further aggression. It goes far beyond Ukraine: it threatens the Baltic states, threatens Moldova, and threatens other parts of Europe,” Merz said.
According to the Chancellor, Germany is already the target of Russia’s hybrid warfare, including acts of sabotage, espionage, and cyberattacks against information networks.
“We are facing large-scale acts of sabotage, espionage attempts, and attacks on our information networks. All of this constitutes forms of hybrid warfare against Germany,” Merz stressed.
He reiterated his earlier assessment of the security situation:
“We are not living in a state of war, but we are no longer living in peace either.”
Merz described Germany as one of the primary targets of Russia’s hybrid campaign because of its geostrategic position in the center of Europe. At the same time, he said, the country is rapidly rebuilding its defense capabilities.
The Chancellor also highlighted the military and technological capabilities Ukraine had developed over the past four years.
“What is truly remarkable in this context is the capabilities Ukraine has developed over the last four years, and from which we are benefiting today,” he said.
Asked whether Russia could exploit the period before European countries fully restore their defense capabilities, Merz said he believes NATO still maintains a credible deterrent.
“I assume that NATO continues to have a sufficiently high level of deterrence,” the German leader said.
He added that there is broad agreement within the Alliance on the need to strengthen Europe’s defense capabilities and those of its European members.
“Deterrence is working. At the same time, we understand that in the future we will have to do much more ourselves. NATO must become more European in order to remain transatlantic,” Merz concluded.
As previously reported by Ukrinform, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski warned that Russia could stage a false flag operation by using Ukrainian drones to attack a NATO member state.