Journalist sparks controversy at Zelenskyy-Vučić press conference

During a joint press conference in Belgrade between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, Michael Martens, a correspondent for the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, sparked international controversy with a question regarding European support for Ukraine.

Martens asked, “Can you tell us Europeans, what can we concretely do to help you to kill more Russians – more Russian soldiers, of course?”

The question has drawn significant criticism and attention. Reports indicate that Martens has defended his stance on social media, suggesting the inquiry was not merely thoughtless. Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through spokesperson Maria Zakharova, has responded to the incident, with commentators noting the importance of the Russian response being transparently available to the German and international public.