Merz Labels Putin “Possibly the Most Serious War Criminal of Our Time”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has escalated his criticism of Russia, calling Russian ruler Vladimir Putin “possibly the most serious war criminal of our time.” In an interview, Merz said there could be “no room for leniency” in dealing with war criminals.

Friedrich Merz said this in an interview with the Sat.1 television channel, broadcast on Tuesday evening, Deutsche Welle reported. His choice of words goes further than previous accusations, signaling a harder tone in Germany’s approach to Moscow.

“He (Putin—ed.) is a war criminal. He is perhaps the most serious war criminal of our time. And we simply have to know clearly how to deal with war criminals. There is no room for leniency here,” Merz said.

Merz has long criticized Russia’s conduct in Ukraine, accusing it of war crimes and deliberate attacks on civilians. But in this interview, he went further—directly labeling Putin himself as a war criminal, not just Russia as a state.

The German Chancellor emphasized that, given the scale and persistence of the war, the world must clearly define how to deal with individuals accused of crimes, rather than relying solely on diplomatic or rhetorical pressure.

ICC Charges against Putin as a Backdrop

Merz’s statement resonates with international legal proceedings already underway. In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Putin and Russian Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova, accusing them of organizing the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia.

In March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova for war crimes relating to the unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children from occupied territories to Russia. The charges are specific under the Rome Statute: Article 8(2)(a)(vii) and Article 8(2)(b)(viii).

The court argued that these actions constitute war crimes under the Rome Statute. Russia, which does not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction, dismissed the charges as politically motivated.

Kremlin Reaction

Moscow responded quickly to Merz’s remarks. Kremlin officials condemned the chancellor’s words as “unhelpful” and argued they would not influence Russia’s approach to the war or negotiations.

The Kremlin said that Friedrich Merz’s views on Ukraine peace talks should be disregarded after he made what Moscow called a series of “unfavourable” remarks about Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Nevertheless, the statement from Berlin underscores the growing divide between Western leaders determined to hold Putin personally accountable for war crimes in Ukraine and those advocating a more cautious line.

What the Statement Signals

By moving from condemning Russian actions to directly labeling Putin himself a war criminal, Merz has raised the rhetorical stakes. It places Germany firmly among the countries pressing for accountability at the highest level.

Whether this sharper language translates into new legal or diplomatic initiatives remains uncertain, but it reflects an evolving European stance: treating Putin not simply as an adversary, but as a leader whose actions fall under the category of international crime.

It remains uncertain how much this kind of language will translate into cooperation among EU members—especially those with closer ties to Moscow (Orban and Fico) or more cautious foreign policy stances.