Germany geared up for war with Russia to please allies, NATO: Kremlin
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Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has explained that Germany was readying for war because of its diminished sovereignty since WWII.
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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends a meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin with the new cabinet members at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, May 14, 2024. (AP)
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on Sunday that German statements relaying the authorities' preparation for war against Russia "are related to the need to please Brussels, Washington, and NATO," because of the sovereignty issues Germany has been grappling with since the end of World War II.
This came after German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said the country should prepare for war with Russia by 2029 amid increasing "Russian threats", early this week.
Speaking to Rossiya 1 reporter Pavel Zarubin, Peskov said "Germany has always had big problems after World War II in terms of deficit of sovereignty and independence. And within the framework of this deficit, of course, the German authorities are racing against the clock — they have to please Brussels, the Washington Party Committee, and [NATO Secretary General Jens] Stoltenberg in NATO."
He added, "Can you imagine them tearing up [between Brussels, NATO, and Washington]?", clarifying that this was the reason the German position was complicated.
Meanwhile, Bundeswehr Deputy Inspector General Andreas Hoppe announced on Sunday that the German armed forces are planning to substantially boost the number of reservists in response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
"It is impossible without reserves. We see this in Ukraine ... We must adapt the reserve to the current challenges of security policy so that it can adequately support the Bundeswehr in carrying out tasks for the defense of the country and the alliance," he told DPA news agency.
According to Hoppe, Germany's goal is to develop the reserve force with up to 60,000 reservists who will receive training on clear tasks and be included in operation planning. He also stated that the country expects 800,000 new drafts as per the German "laws of wartime", saying "Basically, this is everyone who has ever served in the Bundeswehr, retired and is suitable for age."
Germany developed, approved war contingency plan
The German government unveiled Wednesday a comprehensive new defense plan that includes the potential reinstatement of compulsory military service and the deployment of NATO troops on Europe's eastern flank.
"As a result of Russian aggression, we have a completely changed security situation in Europe," Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said. The revamped framework was approved by Chancellor Olaf Scholz's cabinet on Wednesday, replacing the former plan that had been in place since 1989.
The plan includes mandatory conscription and the redirection of manufacturing efforts to focus solely on war goods. It also outlines potential evacuation strategies for parts of the country and the use of subterranean facilities such as subway stations and underground parking lots as temporary shelters.
Reflecting NATO's eastward expansion, the revised framework also prepares Germany to support its allies in the Baltic States. "Germany is no longer a frontline state, but serves the allied armed forces as a hub for the alliance in the heart of Europe," the cabinet declared.
Berlin also developed plans to control food distribution, including the stockpiling of wheat and other grains in secret locations and creating an emergency reserve of rice and beans to ensure the German population could receive one hot meal a day, according to German media outlet Bild.
The new defense strategy also encompasses civilian contributions, requiring citizens to take on certain essential jobs such as nursing and baking. Hospitals would need to be prepared for significant increases in patient numbers.
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