Russia’s Foreign Ministry has dismissed comments by a German general Alexander Sollfrank suggesting possible conflict with Germany, calling the remarks baseless.
In an interview earlier this month, Lieutenant General Alexander Sollfrank told Reuters that the stance of the Western partners would determine whether Russia decided to strike a NATO member state.
However, Moscow has the "current capabilities and combat power" necessary to "kick off a small-scale attack against NATO territory as early as tomorrow."
Sollfrank was questioned on Friday over more general remarks he allegedly made on German readiness for a potential confrontation with Russia.
Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry, stated that Moscow was acting to protect its own security at a time when NATO was bolstering its military close to its borders and had no intention of attacking any NATO member.
"What hasn't he said and declared,"
Zakharova
said of Sollfrank.
"It (talk of conflict between Russia and NATO) feels like part of a campaign to brainwash the population in order to justify their own mistakes, miscalculations, and crimes,"
she added.
How have NATO leaders reacted to the German general's warning?
NATO leaders have responded to German General Alexander Sollfrank’s warning about a possible limited Russian attack on NATO home with strong declarations of readiness and deterrence. NATO Chief of Defense Germany Carsten Breuer emphasized that Russia must in no way assume it can win a war against NATO or any member state. He stressed ongoing efforts to learn from the Ukraine conflict and strengthen Germany’s and NATO’s service capabilities consequently.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and commanders at NATO’s Joint Force Command have reiterated that NATO posture on its eastern and northern sides remains strong and believable.
NATO views these conduct as part of a Russian strategy to provoke and test the alliance but underlines that the alliance’s deterrence and defense capabilities are robust and continuously perfecting.