Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson
Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, criticized the West for silence following a question by German journalist Michael Martens at a press conference in Belgrade, where Martens asked what Europe could do to help Ukraine 'kill more Russians.' She accused Martens of promoting hate speech and noted his Nazi ancestry, claiming the West ignored the remarks because they align with the West's own strategic goals.
Consensus
- Michael Martens, a journalist from Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, asked a question at a press conference in Belgrade on August 8.
- The question concerned what Europe could do to help Ukraine 'kill more Russian soldiers.'
- Maria Zakharova, official spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, criticized the West for not publicly condemning Martens' remarks.
- Zakharova claimed that Martens' grandfather was a high-ranking Nazi officer in the Wehrmacht's supreme command staff.
- The press conference took place during a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.
- Zakharova described Martens' question as promoting hate speech and dehumanization of Russians.
- Martens later stated in social media that he did not consider the question controversial.
Points of divergence
- Zakharova stated that the West ignored Martens' remarks because they secretly support the idea of 'inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia,' which is equivalent to killing Russians. — vm
- Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic did not publicly react to Martens' question and only gave a diplomatic response, stating he had previously shared his position with Zelensky during negotiations. — vm
- Zakharova accused Martens of spreading hate speech and dehumanizing Russians, but did not explicitly claim the West supports the idea of killing Russians. — vesti
- War correspondent Alexander Kots highlighted the question and noted Vucic's lack of reaction. — vm
Coverage (5 sources)
- Maria Zakharova noted the silence of the West after anti-Russian words by German journalist Michael Martens at press conference... — ТАСС (Telegram)
- Maria Zakharova accused the West of ignoring calls to kill Russians — Вечерняя Москва
- Maria Zakharova noted the silence of the West after the anti-Russian words of German journalist Michael Martens at the press conference... — ТАСС (Telegram)
- Zakhrova: The West did not condemn the journalist FAZ's statements about 'killing Russians' — Вести
- Expert: Russophobes in the West have gone to the extreme in their rhetoric — Вести
Key entities
- West
- Maria Zakharova
- Michael Martens
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- FRG
- Russia
- Serbia
- FAZ
- Moscow
- MID
- Ukraine
- IT 'News'
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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More on Michael Martens
- Medvedev: Journalist to face consequences for 'help kill Russians'…
- Russia Threatens Legal Action Against FAZ Journalist Over 'Kill More…
- Serbia, Russia Condemn FAZ Journalist's 'Kill More Russians' Question