German Chancellor Merz: Russia seeks to split our society through hybrid attacks
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany is prepared for further Russian hybrid attacks aimed at undermining support for Ukraine and dividing NATO societies.
German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stated that Germany is prepared for continued hybrid attacks from Russia. He stressed that Berlin will not be intimidated, even as Russia increasingly carries out such attacks against Germany and other NATO allies.
As an example, the chancellor pointed to the incident in Leipzig in August, saying it demonstrates the Russian government's intent to destabilize the situation. According to Merz, Moscow's goal is to get Germany and other Western countries to reduce their support for Ukraine and scale back investment in their own defense and deterrence capabilities.
Russia's attempt to divide society
Merz said Russia is looking for ways to split German society and weaken the state. He emphasized that this dangerous escalation primarily reflects Russia's growing desperation over its lack of success in the war against Ukraine.
The chancellor called for resilience against intimidation carried out through cyberattacks, drone incidents and online propaganda, saying it is all the more important not to be deterred by such threats.
