German spy chief warns Germany risks being drawn into conflict with Russia
In short
The head of Germany's Federal Intelligence Service (BND), Martin Jäger, said at a Bundestag parliamentary control committee hearing that Germany risks being drawn into an armed conflict with Russia, while acknowledging that his agency sees no signs Russia is planning an attack. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Merz and Jäger were trying to draw Germans into confrontation with Russia. Moscow has repeatedly rejected accusations that it is preparing an attack.
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The head of Germany's Federal Intelligence Service (BND), Martin Jäger, said Germany risks being drawn into an armed conflict with Russia, Vedomosti reported. He spoke at the annual public hearing of the Bundestag's parliamentary control committee, where he said: “Germany risks being drawn into an armed conflict with Russia.” RIA Novosti and RBC also reported the warning, and TASS named Jäger in its coverage of the Russian response. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
According to Vedomosti, Jäger acknowledged at the same hearing that his service does not observe signs that Russia is planning an attack. Despite that, he said NATO “cannot afford to relax.” [ 4 ]
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Merz and Jäger are trying to draw Germans into confrontation with Russia, TASS reported. [ 3 ]
Moscow has repeatedly rejected accusations that it is preparing an attack, RBC noted. President Vladimir Putin said on 1 October that Russia does not intend to attack other states, either in the coming years or in the longer term, Vedomosti reported. [ 2 , 4 ]
On 5 October it became known that NATO is drafting a strategy for a rapid victory in the event of an alleged Russian attack, according to Vedomosti. The concept envisages the use of drones and artificial intelligence systems on the alliance's eastern flank. Earlier, on 12 June, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe Alexus Grynkewich said that, based on the intelligence he had studied, Russia does not seek a military conflict with the alliance, Vedomosti reported. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
The exchange adds to an already tense Russian-German relationship, with a German intelligence chief publicly raising the prospect of armed conflict while his Russian counterparts accuse Berlin of escalating. Vedomosti also reported that NATO is working on a concept for a rapid victory in the event of an alleged Russian attack, a step that Russian officials have used to argue the alliance is preparing for confrontation. Neither side's stated position — Jäger's warning and Moscow's repeated denials — has been shown to change the other's assessment.
Key facts
- The head of Germany's Federal Intelligence Service (BND), Martin Jäger, said Germany risks being drawn into an armed conflict with Russia, speaking at the annual public hearing of the Bundestag's parliamentary control committee. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Jäger said his agency does not observe signs that Russia is planning an attack, but added that NATO cannot afford to relax. [ 4 ]
- Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Merz and Jäger are trying to draw Germans into confrontation with Russia. [ 3 ]
- Russian authorities have repeatedly rejected accusations that Russia is preparing an attack, RBC reported. [ 2 , 4 ]
- President Vladimir Putin said on 1 October that Russia does not intend to attack other states, either in the coming years or further out. [ 4 ]
- On 5 October it became known that NATO is drafting a strategy for a rapid victory in the event of an alleged Russian attack, using drones and artificial intelligence systems on the alliance's eastern flank, according to Vedomosti. [ 4 ]
- On 12 June, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe Alexus Grynkewich said that, according to intelligence he had reviewed, Russia does not seek a military conflict with the alliance. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Germany's BND chief Martin Jäger said Germany risks being drawn into an armed conflict with Russia. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Merz and Jäger are trying to draw Germans into confrontation with Russia. [ 3 ]
- Russian authorities have repeatedly rejected accusations that Russia is preparing an attack on other states. [ 2 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- The date and location of the Bundestag parliamentary control committee hearing at which Jäger spoke are not given in the documents. Only Vedomosti describes the setting, as an annual public hearing of the committee, without a date or place.
- NATO's work on a rapid-victory strategy in the event of an alleged Russian attack is reported by a single outlet. Only Vedomosti mentions it, without stating who confirmed the concept or what stage it has reached.
- Jäger warned of the risk of conflict while saying his service sees no signs Russia plans an attack; the documents do not explain the apparent contradiction. Both points come from the same single source, Vedomosti, and no other outlet addresses them.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe Alexus Grynkewich says Russia does not seek a military conflict with the alliance, according to intelligence he had reviewed. [ 4 ]
- President Vladimir Putin says Russia will not attack other states in the coming years or in the longer term. [ 4 ]
- RIA Novosti reports that Germany could be drawn into a conflict with Russia, citing the head of German intelligence. [ 1 ]
- RBC reports the German intelligence chief sees a risk of involvement in a conflict with Russia, and notes Moscow has repeatedly denied preparing an attack. [ 2 ]
- TASS reports Zakharova's statement that Merz and BND chief Jäger are trying to draw Germans into confrontation with Russia. [ 3 ]
- Vedomosti publishes Jäger's remarks at the Bundestag parliamentary control committee hearing, including his acknowledgment that no signs of a planned Russian attack were observed. [ 4 ]