New German envoy to Russia showered with accusations upon arrival

The new German ambassador to Russia, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, was greeted with accusations of Germany's "unreasonable Russophobia" when handing in his credentials at the Foreign Ministry in Moscow on Wednesday, reported dpa.

Upon arrival, Lambsdorff was confronted with criticism of the "confrontational and unfriendly character" of German policy in bilateral relations, the ministry said.

Germany's anti-Russian policy is destroying decades of mutually beneficial cooperation and there is an "unreasonable Russophobia," the ministry said.

Since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February last year, Germany has severely cut its ties with Russia.

Russia's Foreign Ministry said it told Berlin's new ambassador that Moscow considers German support for Ukraine, including arms deliveries, as dangerous.

Lambsdorff is taking over as Germany's envoy to Russia from Géza Andreas von Geyr, at an embassy that is scarcely staffed due to both countries having expelled large numbers of diplomats amid a prolonged diplomatic tussle.

The political situation is extremely difficult and the views on Ukraine "could not be more different," Lambsdorff said in an interview with public broadcaster ZDF published on Wednesday.

He said he hoped that professional contact with the Russian government would nevertheless be possible.

His main task was "to provide the German government with a profound analysis of Russian policy."