Russia criticizes Germany's plan to create large regular army

MOSCOW

Russia on Friday criticized Germany's plans to create the biggest army in Europe.

Moscow will closely follow the announced increase in the German armed forces and Berlin's adherence to international obligations undertaken under the agreement to reunify Germany, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova Zakharova told a press briefing in Moscow.

"The statement of the Federal Chancellor of Germany that Germany will soon have the largest of NATO's countries army in Europe is another confirmation that official Berlin has set a course for the forced remilitarization of its country,” she said.

She added, alluding to the two world wars: “How this can end, alas, is well known from history."

On May 31, in an interview, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that the country will soon have the largest of the NATO countries' regular army in Europe and that this will significantly strengthen the security of Germany and its allies.

Due to its World War II past, Germany has traditionally shied away from a large military, but Russia’s war on Ukraine – now in its fourth month – has made Berlin reconsider its role.