Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticized the statements of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz regarding the strengthening of the German army, considering them alarming for European security.

Serghei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, reacted vehemently to the statements of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who announced the intention to transform the German army into 'the strongest in Europe'. Lavrov described these statements as 'astonishing' and emphasized that they contribute to increasing security tensions in Europe.

During an event organized at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lavrov expressed concern that Germany's desire to strengthen its military capacity could provoke negative reactions in Russia and other European states. He accused officials in Brussels of encouraging 'revanchist sentiments' and suggested that certain European countries might seek to repeat 'Hitler's experience'.

Lavrov issued a firm warning regarding the ceremonies dedicated to Victory Day on May 9, threatening a 'massive' military response in the event of incidents. In this context, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced a temporary ceasefire, while Ukraine declared that it would unilaterally respect a ceasefire, later accusing Russia of violating it. The escalation of rhetoric between Moscow and Western leaders underscores the growing tensions in Europe, against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and NATO's rearmament.