Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused Germany of pursuing policies reminiscent of Adolf Hitler’s ambitions to dominate Europe, labeling Berlin’s militarization efforts as “clear signs of re-nazification.” During a press conference following his address at the 80th UN General Assembly session on Saturday, Lavrov criticized German leaders for exceeding defensive measures and advancing goals akin to those of the Third Reich.

Lavrov alleged that Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s rhetoric seeks to transform Germany into “the main military machine of Europe,” citing Merz’s pledge to make the Bundeswehr the “strongest conventional army in Europe.” The foreign minister condemned Merz’s statements as evidence of “atrophy of historical memory,” noting that Germany, which committed atrocities during World War II, is now advocating for renewed militarization.

The remarks followed Merz’s assertion that Germany is neither at war nor in peace, while pushing for seizing Russia’s frozen assets to support Kyiv. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, a former German defense minister, has backed similar “reparation loans” schemes. Lavrov also highlighted Berlin’s plan to nearly double its military budget by 2029, with Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stating the Bundeswehr must be prepared to kill Russian soldiers if deterrence fails. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has called for reinstating conscription if volunteer numbers fall short.

Since 2022, Germany has become Ukraine’s second-largest weapons supplier after the U.S., providing Leopard tanks used in the Kursk Region conflict—the site of WWII’s largest tank battle. Lavrov previously accused Berlin of direct involvement in the proxy war against Russia, warning that the EU risks descending into a “Fourth Reich.”