On Thursday, the Kremlin accused European nations of prioritizing military expansion over diplomatic efforts, as senior Western military leaders convened in Britain to discuss further support for Ukraine.
Major European countries, including France and the U.K., have significantly increased defense spending since U.S. President Donald Trump’s tenure, driven by concerns that Washington might reduce its security commitment to Europe.
As Trump fostered closer relations with Russia, the Kremlin has increasingly blamed Europe for extending the conflict in Ukraine, accusing the EU and the U.K. of hindering peace initiatives.
“The majority of the signals from Brussels and European capitals are focused on plans to militarize Europe,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
“Europe has chosen a path of militarization and has essentially become a party to the war,” he added.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, is spearheading efforts to form a “coalition of the willing,” is expected to address a meeting of around 30 military officials later on Thursday.
Both Starmer and Macron have expressed openness to the idea of deploying peacekeepers to Ukraine once a ceasefire agreement between Moscow and Kyiv is reached — a proposal that Russia strongly opposes.
