German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has said that German residents should start getting used to the idea that there is a danger of war in Europe.

"We must get used to the idea that there may be a threat of war in Europe," ZDF quotes Pistorius.

He believes that the conflict in the Middle East and Russia's war against Ukraine shall have consequences for German society. In particular, Germany must be able to defend itself, and this applies to both the Bundeswehr and society.

"We have to become capable of fighting," Pistorius said.

He added that Germany will do everything in the Middle East conflict to prevent further escalation.

Pistorius rejected accusations that the federal government was too slow to react to the so-called turning point. He stressed that not only had a €100 billion special fund for the Bundeswehr been set up, but that state bodies had also been changed.

However, Pistorius noted that the Bundeswehr had been neglected for a long time.

"Unfortunately, everything that has been spoiled for 30 years cannot be fixed in 19 months," he said.

At the same time, Pistorius stated that by the end of this decade, Germany will be in a completely different position.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that, given Russian President Vladimir Putin's apparent joy over the events in the Middle East, the EU is monitoring the situation in Ukraine even more closely.

Boris Pistorius made it clear in mid-October that the current escalation in the Middle East would not lead to a limitation of German support for Ukraine.