Moscow has dismissed speculation it has plans to attack NATO as "nonsense"

German troops are prepared to kill Russian soldiers if Moscow attacks a NATO member, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has suggested.

In an interview with the Financial Times published on Sunday, Pistorius stressed that German forces - some of whom have recently been redeployed to Lithuania - would not hesitate to take lethal action if necessary.

"If deterrence doesn't work and Russia attacks, is it going to happen? Yes," Pistorius said. "But I would recommend that you simply go to Vilnius and talk to the representatives of the German brigade there. They know exactly what their job is."

According to Pistorius, any talk about peace and detente could only be possible "on equal terms" and "from a position of strength."

"Not to intimidate anyone, but to make it clear that we know what we can do - we want to live in peace with you, but don't think that we're weak or that we won't defend ourselves," he added.

Moscow has repeatedly dismissed speculation that Russia plans to attack NATO as "nonsense," arguing it has no interest in doing so. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has also criticized what he described as Western leaders' attempts at fearmongering, saying: "They have made a monster out of Russia in order to justify the decision to increase NATO defense spending to 5% of GDP."

Peskov also singled out German Chancellor Friedrich Merz as "a fierce apologist for confrontation with Russia," accusing him of "aggressively mobilizing Europe."

German officials have also been debating a potential return to some form of military conscription to reinforce the military in case there are not enough volunteers to fill the ranks.