Kremlin: German leaks show West's 'involvement' in Ukraine

The Kremlin said the content of a leaked conversation between German officials about potential strikes on Crimea proves that Western countries are involved in the conflict in Ukraine.

The recording of the leaked conversations was posted on social media on Friday.

Germany said it believed the recording contained an "intercepted" conversation in an air force unit, but could not say whether it had been edited or not.

"The recording itself suggests that the Bundeswehr is discussing substantive and concrete plans to strike Russian territory," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

The talks "once again underline the direct involvement of the collective West in the conflict in Ukraine," he said.

Peskov spoke as the German ambassador to Russia was summoned to the foreign ministry in Moscow.

Ambassador Alexander Graf Lambsdorff left the ministry building without making any comment, Russian news agencies reported.

Kiev has long demanded that Germany provide it with Taurus missiles, which can reach targets up to 500 km away.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has so far refused to send the missiles, fearing it would escalate the conflict. / BGNES