Kathmandu— A question posed by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung correspondent Michael Martens to Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky regarding how Europe could assist in “killing more Russian soldiers” has drawn sharp criticism from Martin Dolzer, a former member of the Hamburg parliament. During a press conference following talks between Zelensky and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade on Saturday, Martens asked specifically what European nations could do to help Ukraine “kill more Russians,” clarifying he meant Russian soldiers. The question prompted visible reaction from Vucic and has since sparked controversy, with Dolzer labeling it a ‘glorification of war’ and an affront to humanity.

Dolzer's Criticism

Speaking to RT on Monday, Dolzer expressed his shame that a German journalist would pose such a question. He argued that twenty years ago, such phrasing from a reporter at a reputable publication would have been nearly unthinkable. According to Dolzer, Martens’ wording amounted to a “glorification of war,” which he described as both “cruel” and “against humanity.”

Dolzer further stated that Germany has become “one of the most aggressive actors who tried to keep Ukraine in that war against Russia.”

Martens Defends Question

Following accusations on social media of inciting hatred, Martens defended his question on X (formerly Twitter), claiming there was nothing “scandalous” or “shocking” about it. However, the response did little to quell the controversy surrounding his phrasing.

Russian Foreign Ministry Response

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova responded to Martens’ remarks on Telegram, highlighting the family history of the journalist. She noted that Martens' grandfather served as an officer on a Wehrmacht command staff under Alfred Jodl during World War II, who was later convicted of war crimes at Nuremberg and executed.

Zakharova also pointed out that Martens had previously invoked his family history to justify refraining from criticism of Israel but showed no such restraint when addressing Russia. She accused him of “dehumanizing Russians [and] legitimizing hate speech toward Russia,” adding that Western human rights defenders have remained silent on what she termed a “hereditary Nazi.”

FAZ Response

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung acknowledged the controversy, expressing regret over Martens’ choice of words to the German Press Agency (dpa). The newspaper stated that calls for maximizing Russian casualties do not align with its editorial policy.

The incident has sparked debate about journalistic ethics and the framing of questions in conflict reporting, with FAZ issuing a statement distancing itself from the reporter's phrasing.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.