Merz says Russia is trying to destabilize Germany ‘every single day’ and warns against a return to Europe’s darkest periods

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Saturday that Russia posed a growing threat to Germany and Europe, accusing Moscow of trying to destabilize his country on a daily basis through cyberattacks, sabotage and pressure on critical infrastructure.

“We are facing a massive threat in the east of our continent,” Merz told the CSU party convention in Munich. “We see Russia trying to destabilize Germany every single day.”

Merz said the threat extended beyond Ukraine and framed Germany’s defense buildup as necessary to prevent Europe from returning to an era in which power overrides law.

“I do not want a return to the darkest periods in the history of our continent,” he said.

He also vowed that antisemitism and hostility toward Israel would face firm opposition in Germany, regardless of whether they came from the political right or left.

“Antisemites and enemies of Israel, whether they come from the right or from the left, will always find bitter opponents in us,” Merz said. “We will not tolerate it. We will not accept it.”

Merz criticized the SPD and Greens over their coalition talks with Die Linke in Berlin, saying recognition of Israel’s right to exist should be self-evident and should also apply to anyone who wants to live in Germany.

On industry, Merz said Germany and France had helped move the EU toward loosening its planned 2035 phaseout of new combustion-engine cars. He said that if the remaining European approval process is completed, the “combustion-engine ban” could be considered off the table by the end of the year.

“We stand with motorists. We stand with our industry. And we stand for technology-neutral innovation,” he said, adding that Germany and France had once again become “the engine of Europe.”