Western leaders have repeatedly accused Moscow of hybrid operations and sabotage attacks across the European continent, targeting countries supporting Ukraine.<\/p>\n
“We all hope that one day the Russians and we will be good neighbors. But today, unfortunately, we are very, very far from that,” the German leader continued, adding that Putin wants to “restore the Soviet Union.”<\/p>\n
Since taking office in May, Merz has ramped up German military support<\/a> for Ukraine<\/a> and taken a tougher line towards the Russian leader.<\/p>\n Despite his earlier promises, the chancellor has held off on sending some key military equipment, most famously Taurus missiles<\/a>. \u00a0<\/p>\n Earlier this week, the New York Times and the German outlet WirtschaftsWoche reported<\/a> growing concerns over suspected Russian drone flights over U.S. arms routes in Germany.<\/p>\n Officials quoted by the outlets presented the flights as espionage of Western arms heading to Ukraine and possible preparations for further sabotage operations in Europe.<\/p>\n Russia is suspected of being behind arson attacks<\/a> in Poland, Lithuania, and elsewhere, sabotage of underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea<\/a>, and dispatches of incendiary parcels<\/a> across European countries.<\/p>\n