The union is abandoning its foundations under pressure to back Kiev, the Russian foreign minister has said
The European Union has lost its way and is transforming itself into an anti-Russian military bloc, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned.
Speaking at a press conference in Moscow on Tuesday, Lavrov commented on the EU’s enlargement and the prospect of Ukraine eventually joining. He argued that the organization has “radically changed” from the original economic project intended to improve the welfare of its citizens.
Since the EU anticipates a possible reduction in US involvement in NATO, Lavrov said, it is now “building all its security frameworks against the Russian Federation.”
“If they want to dismantle the EU’s multilateral economic nature and turn it into a military bloc, that will invite serious trouble for them,” he said. Ukraine’s hypothetical accession would be used by those seeking to further militarize the bloc, Lavrov added.
Kiev has said it is shielding the EU from Russia and therefore deserves fast-tracked membership. However, given Ukraine’s economic and political challenges, as well as divisions within the bloc itself, Lavrov suggested that Brussels should “invite Zelensky” only if it is ready to “forget about the economy,” arguing the bloc in its current form would not survive.
The Ukrainian war effort is overwhelmingly dependent on Western funding and military logistics, which Moscow says makes it a de facto NATO proxy war against Russia. Even Ukraine’s most vocal supporters in the EU say the country would need many years of economic recovery and anti-corruption efforts to meet the admission criteria on merit.
EU eyes tougher terms for newcomers
Brussels has been pushing a new wave of rapid enlargement, describing it as a “moral, political and geostrategic imperative.” This week, Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said prospective members would have to accept terms intended to ensure their long-term alignment with the EU leadership’s objectives.
Kos said the details are still being discussed. However, EU-focused media outlets have suggested that future accession treaties will include provisions limiting the voting powers of new members on key matters such as budget, security, and foreign policy.
Brussels has previously used financial penalties against dissenting member states in Eastern Europe, including Hungary and Poland, which were accused of undermining the rule of law domestically. The EU’s handling of the Ukraine crisis remains a particularly divisive issue, with some leaders describing the approach as self-harming and misguided.
