Kremlin summons German ambassador BERLIN (AP) — The German government on Monday vehemently rejected allegations that Russia’s leak of a conversation among high-ranking German military officers was an indication that Berlin was preparing for war against Russia.

“‘It is absolutely clear that claims such as that this conversation would prove that Germany is preparing a war against Russia, that this is absurdly infamous Russian propaganda.’”

— Olaf Scholz, German chancellor At the same time, the government sought to contain the domestic fallout from the leak and promised a quick investigation into how a conversation by top German military personnel could be intercepted and published.

“It is absolutely clear that claims such as that this conversation would prove that Germany is preparing a war against Russia, that this is absurdly infamous Russian propaganda,” a spokesman for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told reporters in Berlin.

Government spokesman Wolfgang Buechner said the leak was part of Russia’s “information war” against the West, and that the aim was to create discord within Germany.

The 38-minute recording features military officers discussing in German how Taurus long-range cruise missiles could be used by Kyiv against invading Russian forces.

While German authorities have not questioned the authenticity of the recording, Scholz said a week ago that delivering these weapons to Ukraine is not an option — and that he does not want Germany to be drawn into the war directly.

Russia’s foreign ministry, however, on Monday threatened Germany with “dire consequences” in connection with the leak. It did not elaborate.

“If nothing is done, and the German people do not stop this, then there will be dire consequences first and foremost for Germany itself,” foreign-ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said.

See: Putin warns that sending Western troops to Ukraine risks a global nuclear conflict

Also read: NATO chief says no plans for troops in Ukraine after France’s Macron said it should not be ruled out