The Head of Germany's Foreign Intelligence Service, Martin Jäger, warned on Monday about the increasing risk of direct conflict between Germany and Russia, referring to the intensification of Moscow's shadow war against Berlin. He raised this issue following an unsuccessful attack on a Ukrainian cargo plane at Leipzig Airport in August, stating: "Germany has become a major barrier against Russia's hegemonic ambitions in Europe and is therefore the primary target of Russian actions."
Increased Risk in Ukraine
Jäger also noted that Russia's attack on Ukraine has entered its most dangerous phase, and Vladimir Putin is facing increasing domestic pressures to demonstrate military progress in a war that is entering its fifth winter. He said: "Russia is determined to bring Ukraine to its knees this winter, and we should expect attacks from Russia that are intense and ruthless, unlike anything we have seen so far."
Merz's Meeting with Ukrainian Officials
These remarks came after the visit of Friedrich Merz, the Chancellor of Germany, to Kyiv, which seemed to be an effort to demonstrate Germany's resolve and commitment to supporting Ukraine following the successes of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in regional elections. During this visit, Merz emphasized Germany's commitment to supporting Ukraine and said: "Mr. Putin, stop this senseless war." He referenced Ronald Reagan's famous speech during the Cold War, in which he urged Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall.
Jäger also stated that the increase in tensions from Russia is partly due to the economic pressures Moscow is facing, consuming its resources to continue the war in Ukraine. He pointed out that Putin has reached a point where he cannot simply stop the attack on Ukraine without jeopardizing his domestic power.
Possibility of Targeted Russian Operations
The Head of Germany's Foreign Intelligence Service mentioned that while he sees no evidence of large-scale Russian attacks on NATO member countries, it is entirely possible that Russia could conduct targeted and smaller operations. He recalled the "little green men" attacks in 2014 that led to the annexation of Crimea, stating that such operations could be repeated.
