Russia’s Putin slams German Chancellor, Merz over ‘ War Criminal Remark’

Moscow on Wednesday criticised recent statements made by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who labelled Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal over Russia’s ongoing assault on Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made the remarks on the sidelines of Putin’s four-day state visit to Beijing. He said Merz had made many “unpleasant remarks” recently and that his opinion could hardly be taken into account at the present moment.

Russian media reported on the reaction but avoided using the term “war criminal.”

Putin also responded to the allegations during a press conference, calling them “an unsuccessful attempt to shift responsibility for the tragedy in Ukraine.” He blamed the West and Europeans for the 2014 coup in Kiev, which he said caused the conflict that followed.

Speaking to a German broadcaster on Tuesday, Merz described Putin as “perhaps the most severe war criminal of our time that we currently see on a large scale.” He stressed the need for clarity in dealing with war criminals and warned against any show of leniency.

The German chancellor further called for tariffs against countries trading with Russia, including China and India.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, condemned Merz’s statement and his call for the “economic exhaustion” of Russia. She cast doubt on Germany’s ability to achieve this, saying, “The one who is exhausting is not up to it, Mr Merz.”

She also pointed to Germany’s economic struggles following the loss of relatively cheap Russian oil and gas, while criticising Merz’s position.

The International Criminal Court has already issued an arrest warrant for Putin over alleged war crimes in Ukraine, where Russia launched a full-scale invasion in 2022. Moscow strongly denies the allegations, insisting that its “special military operation” is intended to protect Russian-speaking populations in Ukraine.