FAZ regrets wording of Zelenskyy question about killing more Russian troops
FAZ journalist Michael Martens explained his question to Zelenskyy by invoking Churchill. (Photo: Video screenshot)
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung said it regretted the wording
of a reporter’s question to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about helping Ukraine
kill more Russian troops, Welt
reported on Aug. 10.
FAZ correspondent Michael Martens posed the question at a
news conference in Belgrade on Aug. 8. The newspaper called the wording
ambiguous and stressed that it did not support killing as many Russian soldiers
as possible.
FAZ’s editors said the question could have been
misunderstood.
“The question was phrased ambiguously, however, which we
regret. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung’s position is not that as many Russian soldiers
as possible should be killed,” the newspaper said.
Martens posed the question during a news conference with
Zelenskyy in Belgrade on Aug. 8.
FAZ said he was referring to discussions among military
experts about how Ukraine could create manpower problems for the Russian
military severe enough to pressure Moscow into peace negotiations.
After facing criticism, Martens wrote on X that his question
was an allusion to British Prime Minister Winston Churchill during World War
II.
The newspaper said Churchill had framed a decision about
supporting Yugoslav resistance groups in military terms: “Who is killing the
most Germans, and how can we help them kill even more?”
FAZ also reported that Martens received threats and insults
after the news conference. The newspaper stressed that the right to ask
questions is an integral part of press freedom and said it was prepared to
pursue legal action when its employees are threatened.
At the same time, FAZ emphasized its support for Ukraine’s
right to self-defense under international law and for ending Russia’s
aggression against Ukraine as quickly as possible.
Zelenskyy arrived in Serbia on Aug. 7 for his first visit to
the country during his presidency.
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