In an official statement on Monday, the German government firmly denied allegations made by Russia that the leak of a conversation by high-ranking German military officers indicated Berlin's preparation for war against Russia. The government also pledged to conduct a swift investigation into how the conversation was intercepted and published.

A spokesperson for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized that the claims made by Russia were "absurdly infamous Russian propaganda." The government further characterized the leak as part of Russia's "information war" against the West, aimed at sowing discord within Germany. The leaked 38-minute recording featured German military officers discussing the potential use of Taurus long-range cruise missiles by Ukraine against Russian forces.

While the authenticity of the recording has not been questioned by German authorities, Scholz reiterated his position that delivering weapons to Ukraine is not an option, emphasizing Germany's aim to avoid being directly involved in the conflict. However, Russia's foreign ministry issued a stern warning to Germany, without providing further details on the potential consequences.

The strained relations between Germany and Russia have been steadily deteriorating since Russia's invasion of Ukraine two years ago. The leak of the audio occurred on the same day as the burial of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, whose death in an Arctic penal colony two weeks prior remains unexplained. Furthermore, the leak comes just weeks before Russia's upcoming presidential election.

The leaked audio revealed that four officers, including the head of Germany's air force, Ingo Gerhartz, were discussing deployment scenarios for Taurus missiles in Ukraine before a meeting with Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. The officers acknowledged that early delivery and rapid deployment of the missiles would require the involvement of German soldiers. However, the German government has not yet approved the delivery of the cruise missiles sought by Ukraine.

The debate within Germany regarding military aid to Ukraine has intensified, particularly as Kyiv faces setbacks on the battlefield and with the U.S. Congress holding up military aid. Germany currently stands as the second-largest supplier of military aid to Ukraine after the United States, and it plans to further increase its support this year.

Chancellor Scholz reemphasized his stance against the delivery of Taurus missiles to Ukraine during a visit to a school in Sindelfingen. Germany's defense ministry sought to downplay the significance of the leaked conversation, describing it as an "exchange of ideas" before a meeting with the defense minister. The ministry is conducting an investigation into the interception and leak of the conversation and vowed to share its findings.

Germany's ambassador to Russia, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, visited Russia's foreign ministry in Moscow on Monday, but the German government emphasized that the visit had been planned well before the audio was published. Meanwhile, the German government expressed its intention to explore better strategies for countering targeted disinformation, particularly from Russia.

The release of the leaked audio was described by National Security Council spokesman John Kirby in the United States as a "transparent attempt by Russians to sow discord," although he declined to address specific details of the audio.

As the investigation unfolds, Germany remains resolute in refuting any accusations of war preparedness and focuses on maintaining stability while navigating the increasingly complex dynamics between Russia and Ukraine.