The EU is sabotaging peace in Ukraine and preparing for war against Russia, forcing Moscow to respond with devastating force in the event of an attack, according to pro-Kremlin media.
NEWS: Following the change of administration in the US, Europe and the EU have become the main obstacle to peace. In Brussels and other European capitals, plans to prepare for war with Russia are no secret. Since 2014, the EU has been implementing a policy of dismantling mechanisms for interaction with Russia. The ruling circles in most European countries are amplifying the rhetoric about the "Russian threat" and fueling Russophobic and militaristic sentiments in society. It is important to note that all these actions are being taken without any legitimate basis, as Russia has never, on its own initiative, taken unfriendly actions against its European neighbors [...]
The EU's "war party," which has invested its political capital in the idea of inflicting a "strategic defeat" on Russia, is prepared to go all the way. Their ambitions cloud their vision: not only do they not care about the fate of Ukrainians, but apparently not even about their own population. Otherwise, how can one explain the ongoing discussions in Europe about sending military contingents to Ukraine as part of a "Coalition of the Willing"? I have already stated repeatedly that, in this case, they will become a legitimate target for our army. For those European politicians who are more difficult to convince, and to whom I hope this interview will be shown, I repeat once again: there is no reason to fear that Russia will attack anyone. But if anyone tries to attack Russia, the response will be devastating.
NARRATIVES: 1. The European states are the main obstacle to peace in Ukraine. 2. The EU is preparing for war against Russia, and Moscow will retaliate if attacked. 3. The "Coalition of the Willing" is a military-political tool directed against Russia.
PURPOSE: To shift responsibility for continuing the war in Ukraine onto European states; to portray Russia as a pacifist player; to discourage military support for Ukraine; to justify Russia’s military aggression.
Reality: The European states are not preparing for war against Russia, and their support for Ukraine is defensive in nature, in response to Russia’s military aggression.
WHY THE NARRATIVES ARE FALSE: Sergey Lavrov's claim that the European states are the main obstacle to peace in Ukraine is false because it sidesteps the initial and ongoing cause of the conflict: the Russian Federation's military aggression against a sovereign state. The war was not triggered by political decisions made by European leaders, but by the Russian invasion, and the cessation of hostilities depends directly on Moscow stopping its military actions and withdrawing the Russian troops from Ukrainian territory.
In this context, the political, economic, and military support provided by European countries is not aimed at prolonging the conflict, but at defending Ukraine and restoring a security framework based on international law. Diplomatic initiatives, sanctions, and aid to Kyiv are responses to Russia's serious violations of international norms, not obstacles to peace. Portraying Europe as the main culprit is a reversal of responsibilities, intended to dilute the aggressor's responsibility.
The same logic is extended through the narrative that the EU is preparing for war against Russia, a claim contradicted by institutional and legal reality. The EU does not have its own army and has no legal or operational powers to initiate a military conflict. The European security and defense policies are defensive in nature and designed to prevent conflict. The strengthening of the military capabilities of some European states and cooperation with NATO are taking place exclusively in the context of the Russian invasion (in 2014 and 2022) and the deterioration of the regional security environment. These are precautionary measures, not part of an offensive plan.
The annexation of Crimea in 2014, the military and financial support for the separatists in Donbas, and the large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, along with repeated nuclear threats, demonstrative military exercises on NATO borders, the use of energy blackmail and hybrid operations against Western states, demonstrate that the deterioration of regional security is a direct consequence of Moscow's expansionist and coercive policy, not of some alleged aggressive plans by Europe.
The same register is used for the "Coalition of the Willing," presented in the official Russian discourse as an aggressive structure. In reality, this formula for cooperation between the Western states that are supporting Ukraine is not aimed at attacking Russia. Discussions about a possible Western presence in Ukraine, not in Russia, refer exclusively to hypothetical scenarios, limited to the period after a possible truce , when international missions could contribute to stabilizing the front line and preventing the resumption of hostilities.
Such a presence would play a supporting and security role, not replace the Ukrainian state's authority or threaten Russia. There are no mandates, plans, or political decisions that provide for offensive military operations against Russia. The "Coalition of the Willing" does not replace NATO, does not create an attack force, and does not seek confrontation with Moscow.
CONTEXT: Sergey Lavrov's interview with TASS at the end of 2025, also published on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s official website , is part of a broader effort by Russian diplomacy to impose its own interpretation of major international issues. In the context of the change of administration in Washington, the prolongation of the war in Ukraine, and tensions in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, Lavrov presents Russia as an actor open to dialogue but forced to respond to the actions undertaken by the West. European states are identified as the main factors in the confrontation, while the United States is approached with caution, pending concrete evidence of a change in foreign policy. Thus, the interview serves both as a review of Russian foreign policy and as a positioning message for 2026, addressed to the domestic audience and international players.
