Zakharova highlighted the devastating impact of the crisis on the labor market, noting that hundreds of thousands of jobs have been lost in the manufacturing, construction, trade, and logistics sectors.The Russian spokesperson also stated that economic confidence has been completely destroyed, citing the ifo Business Climate Index, which fell to 84.4 points in April 2026, the lowest level since the pandemic-related lockdowns, and that every fourth German company expects business to worsen this year. Zakharova argued that the German government has destroyed the fundamental pillars that made Germany a global economic power. Zakharova made the following comments in her analysis:In the first quarter of 2026, employment in these sectors decreased by about half a million. The manufacturing industry is losing 15,000 jobs every month. Large companies are downsizing: the Volkswagen Group is laying off 35,000, Bosch 22,000, and ThyssenKrupp 11,000 employees.
Recalling that the German government has lowered its growth forecast for 2026 to between 0.5% and 0.8% and expects unemployment to reach 3 million people (6.3% of the workforce), Zakharova said, 'Germany has blindly and thoughtlessly surrendered to the anti-Russian agenda, destroying the energy foundation of its own industry. It has lost its markets, and now the Global Majority (non-Western countries) is gaining dominance in these areas.'In her speech, Zakharova also drew a historical parallel between Germany's current situation and the Weimar Republic of the 1920s, arguing that the reasons for the collapse back then were also due to external policy factors such as reparations, loss of industrial areas, and dependence on foreign loans. The spokesperson warned:The German industrial model was based on three main pillars: cheap Russian gas, access to the Chinese market open to European exports, and global leadership in the automotive sector. All three pillars have been destroyed by the 'wise' German administration of recent years. Industrial electricity prices in the EU are twice as high as in the US and 50% higher than in China.
In conclusion, Zakharova acknowledged that the global economic problems are not limited to Germany and ended her criticism of the Western bloc with the following words:Germany pays the price for others' decisions with its own well-being. And whenever the economy collapses, Berlin starts playing the card of political adventure.
Germany's economic collapse has been highlighted by Zakharova's criticism and warnings. Zakharova warned Berlin that Germany has destroyed the foundation of its own industry.If you ask, 'Is Germany the only one with problems?' I agree. However, there is a small nuance: it was not Russia or the Global Majority that initiated this 'new crusade' to redraw the world under the flags of sanctions, piracy, and robbery. It was the West that did this, and Berlin was at the forefront of this chorus.