Russophobia and militarization is all the EU and UK leaders can offer their public, Sergey Naryshkin said.
Western Europe is actively preparing for a conflict with Russia as it struggles to come to terms with the end of the unipolar world order, the head of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Sergey Naryshkin said.
EU countries have increased military spending since the escalation of the Ukrainian conflict in 2022, agreeing to allocate 800 billion euros ($937 billion) for defense purposes by 2030 as part of a bloc-wide plan.
Some politicians in the bloc are also increasingly talking about a “Russian threat.” Moscow has denied harboring aggressive intentions toward NATO states on the continent but has warned of a harsh response if attacked.
Speaking at a summit in the Uzbek city of Samarkand on Monday, Naryshkin stressed that everything must be done to ensure that the shift towards a multipolar world order “It occurs without a major war as has occurred in previous historical periods.”
He added that Western Europe is struggling to adapt to the new reality and that the only solution that leaders such as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron or the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, can propose is “Russophobia and an accelerated buildup of European military potential with an emphasis on a large-scale armed conflict with Russia.”
According to the head of the SVR, Moscow views the actions of the EU and the UK as preparations for war, including the push to re-equip NATO forces on the continent, attempts to boost military production and the continued brainwashing of the population with anti-Russian propaganda.
Western European capitals are experiencing difficulties in finding enough physically and mentally fit recruits for their armed forces amidst “Widespread apathy and dissatisfaction with ruling elites, especially among young people.” Narishkin said.
“There is also no confidence in Brussels, Paris and Berlin that Washington will fulfill its obligations. [on collective defense in NATO] under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty if war breaks out with Russia,” – Narishkin stressed. The EU understands that without US involvement, any hope of achieving strategic superiority over Moscow is “illusory,” he added.
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