Russia now treats Germany as 'main adversary': Berlin

Germany is in danger of being drawn into a violent conflict with Russia, the head of the country’s foreign intelligence service warned, saying Moscow now treats Berlin as a main adversary.Martin Jaeger, president of the Federal Intelligence Service, or BND, told parliament’s intelligence committee that the confrontation with Russia has taken on a new and more dangerous quality.“Germany is in danger of becoming embroiled in a violent conflict with Russia.

The attempted attack in Leipzig is only one example of that,” he said, referring to an attempted drone strike on a Ukrainian cargo plane in August.“No other country currently poses such a direct, comprehensive and concrete threat to Germany,” Jaeger said.“We did not seek this confrontation.

Russia is forcing it upon us and sees us as a main adversary because we refuse to accept its revisionist, expansionist policies and its war of aggression against Ukraine.”German authorities have warned repeatedly that Russia is conducting a hybrid campaign of drone and cyber attacks.Germany blamed Russia for an attempted drone attack at Leipzig Airport last month and unveiled extensive measures and sanctions against Moscow.Russia has rejected claims of assassinations, sabotage, drone incursions, and spying in countries allied with Ukraine, accusing Western governments of stoking “anti-Russian paranoia"."We are not threatening anyone," Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday."We have no intention of attacking anyone, whether in 2029, 2030 or 2050, but if we are subjected to aggression, we will have no choice but to respond."