Germany has rejected Russia’s claim that it is planning attacks on Russian territory, calling it “absurd propaganda”.
Russia made the claim after Kremlin-controlled media published a recording in which senior German air force officers appeared to discuss supplying Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine.
Wolfgang Büchner, deputy government spokesman, said: “Claims that the conversation proves Germany is preparing war against Russia is absurd, infamous Russian propaganda.”
Dmitry Peskov, President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, told reporters that the call made it “more than obvious” that Germany’s military was “discussing substantive and specific plans to strike Russian territory”.
The German foreign ministry also denied that Germany’s ambassador to Russia had been summoned to the Russian foreign ministry in response to the call. The appointment was long-planned, the ministry said.