Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova provided a forthright and moving response at her July 17 press conference, answering a question about the restoration of Russian-German relations. Her response gives a powerful insight into the inner thinking and emotional processes of the current generation of Russian leadership, when it hears German leadership speak of defeating Russia, and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius’ chilling call for “killing Russians.” Here is an abbreviation of Zakharova’s answer. It is also available in full in Documentation:
Question: Do you see any prospects for restoring relations between Russia and Germany? And what would that require?
Maria Zakharova: The way you frame this question makes it sound as if Russia is somehow responsible for the emergence of such figures [as Defense Minister Boris Pistorius] in German politics. That is not our responsibility.
Historically, we have done everything possible to build relations with a peaceful and prosperous Germany based on mutual respect. We forgave what no person, no nation, should be expected to forgive. We forgave the deaths of tens of millions of our people. We forgave the torment inflicted on our country, on our people. We forgave the burning of towns and villages, the destruction of museums, the torture of civilians and children. We forgave the way we were treated—not just as second-class citizens, but as people considered unworthy of life itself. We forgave it all.
But we did not forget. That is why we preserve memorials, produce films and teach our history. We did not forget, but we forgave. And again, we extended a hand of friendship, respect and cooperation. We showed how, through forgiveness, it is possible to build normal, mutually respectful, mutually beneficial relations. We proposed many joint projects.
We said: If historical resources are so essential, let us cooperate and make peaceful, mutually advantageous use of what we have, without descending into yet another spiral of dehumanization and brutality. We ensured our resources were supplied on fair terms. But above all, we sought to preserve what makes us human.
And what did we get in return? What everyone is seeing today. To me, the most alarming thing happening in Germany is the complete amnesia regarding its own past. The country has forgotten its recent history, including its reunification. The fact that the country was divided did not happen by some global accident, but as a consequence of the crimes it committed. Germany has forgotten who played the decisive role in making its reunification possible. It was our country, our people, those who had every right not to forgive, but did, who also helped bring the German people back together. Even that has now been betrayed. They have betrayed themselves.
German weapons are being used to attack Russian territory and Russian people, the very people Germany owes an eternal debt to, including for the lives never born because of what happened.
Plans are being discussed to launch local assembly of Taurus long-range cruise missiles in Ukraine—weapons that, as we all understand, require the direct involvement of Bundeswehr specialists. That would mean German officers participating directly in military operations. This isn’t covert—it’s open. Do German voters, who recently expressed support for restoring relations with Russia, understand where their reckless leaders are dragging them?
Do they realize this? It seems many of them voted for peace and against militarizing relations with Russia. What happens next? Will German voters later claim they were deceived once again? They were deceived 90 years ago, when they were sold a so-called democratic choice that led not to an immediate catastrophe, but to the collapse of their country on a historical scale.
It is obvious that those we once called revanchists, who used to hide quietly in the shadows and occasionally crawl out, have drawn no lessons from history. Today, representatives of the German authorities are once again attempting to speak to Russia in the language of ultimatums and so-called strength. This is absurd, offensive, and morally repugnant.
I believe that many ordinary Germans—educated, thoughtful citizens—are deeply concerned. They sense that another catastrophe may be coming.
So if your question is about improving relations with Germany, it should not be addressed to us—it’s a question for Berlin. But before anything else, Germany must save itself from yet another catastrophe, the likes of which it has already experienced more than once. And now, it seems, it stands at the brink again.
