Russia says Western Europe is biggest obstacle to peace in Ukraine

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mariya Zaharova warned that continued U.S. military aid to Kyiv could have "unpredictable consequences" and that the delivery of weapons "raises tension on the ground." She singled out Western Europe, saying the Netherlands’ €500 million financing of drones and Belgium’s planned delivery of seven F‑16 fighters are "the biggest obstacle to peace" in Ukraine.

Zaharova criticised the EU for ignoring human‑rights abuses in Ukraine and accused France’s President Emmanuel Macron of deepening the diplomatic crisis. She also noted Russia’s readiness to protect Belarus’s security and called the military equipment supplied to Kyiv a legitimate military target.

The statements were made during a weekly press briefing in Moscow and reflect Russia’s broader narrative that Western support is prolonging the conflict.