EU branded ‘main obstacle’ to Ukraine peace as Lavrov accuses Brussels of war preparations |
The European Union has emerged as the principal obstacle to any meaningful peace settlement in Ukraine, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who has accused Brussels of abandoning diplomacy in favor of militarization and ideological confrontation. In a wide-ranging interview with TASS, Lavrov argued that the EU is neither prepared nor willing to engage in constructive negotiations, instead doubling down on a strategy aimed at inflicting what it calls a “strategic defeat” on Russia.
Lavrov’s remarks underscore Moscow’s long-standing position that the conflict in Ukraine is no longer merely a bilateral confrontation but a proxy war driven by Western political interests. According to the foreign minister, nearly all EU member states-with only a handful of exceptions-have poured vast amounts of money, weapons, and political support into Ukraine, even as Russia maintains what he described as battlefield initiative. Rather than reassessing their approach, Lavrov suggested, European leaders continue to cling to the belief that Russia’s economy will eventually collapse under the weight of sanctions, a prediction that has repeatedly failed to materialize.
At the heart of Lavrov’s criticism is the EU’s refusal to consider compromises necessary for ending the war. European officials have repeatedly insisted that any peace deal requiring Ukraine to make significant territorial or security concessions would be unacceptable. From Moscow’s perspective, this rigid stance effectively sabotages negotiations before they can begin. Lavrov warned........