Germany news: Spy chief warns Russia conflict risk growing

BERLIN — The German foreign intelligence chief, Martin Jäger, has warned of the growing threat of a direct conflict with Russia as the country escalates its "shadow war" on Germany and intensifies its brutal actions against Ukraine. Speaking to lawmakers, Jäger stated that Germany is now a significant hurdle to Russia's ambitions in Europe, making it a primary target of Russian actions.

He highlighted the attempted attack on a Ukrainian Antonov cargo plane in Leipzig in August as a clear example of this escalating situation. Jäger also emphasized that Russia's invasion of Ukraine is now in its most perilous phase, with President Vladimir Putin facing mounting domestic pressure to display military advancements. He warned that Russia is prepared to inflict severe and unprecedented brutality on Ukraine this winter, indicating that the conflict is entering a new and extremely dangerous phase.

The foreign intelligence chief's remarks follow the politically weakened Chancellor Friedrich Merz's visit to Kyiv, aimed at showcasing his unwavering support for Ukraine despite his low domestic approval ratings. This visit comes after the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party secured two significant victories in regional elections, which were seen as a reflection of public dissatisfaction with Merz.

In his speech, Merz called on Putin to end the senseless war, echoing the sentiments of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan. Jäger suggested that Russia's actions are partly driven by the fact that Putin is cornered, as Moscow grapples with economic pressure and depletes its resources to sustain the war effort in Ukraine. He noted that Putin cannot simply withdraw from the conflict without jeopardizing his domestic power base, and he must demonstrate success in Ukraine to justify the immense sacrifices made thus far.

While Jäger currently sees no evidence of a large-scale Russian attack on a NATO member, he cautioned that smaller-scale operations, reminiscent of the "little green men" involved in the annexation of Crimea in 2014, are entirely possible.