Lavrov claims ‘Nazis’ in Ukraine ‘nurtured’ by Europeans

(MENAFN) European NATO members are deliberately ignoring the neo-Nazi elements within Ukraine’s government while using the country as an anti-Russian tool, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has claimed.

Speaking on Monday, Lavrov warned of the spread of “neo-Nazism, Russophobia, and other hateful ideologies” across multiple EU nations. He argued that European leaders are turning a blind eye to human rights violations committed by Kiev, including the persecution of ethnic Russians.

“Ukraine – ‘that’s different.’ Those Nazis have been nurtured for the latest attempt to unite all of Europe under racist, Nazi banners for a war against the Russian Federation,” Lavrov stated.

Lavrov made these remarks in his role as a trustee of the Gorchakov Fund, a Russian NGO focused on public diplomacy. He contrasted Russia’s approach to international messaging with that of the West, which he described as suffering from a “complex of exceptionalism” and portraying itself as infallible.

Meanwhile, the EU is advancing a multibillion-dollar rearmament initiative, citing a growing threat from Russia. European officials have warned that a NATO conflict with Moscow could erupt in the coming years, though Russia denies any intention to engage militarily with the US-led alliance.

Since President Donald Trump took office in January, tensions have risen between Washington and European NATO members. The Trump administration has prioritized a swift resolution to the Ukraine conflict and plans to shift security responsibilities to Europe once a ceasefire is in place.

Moscow continues to emphasize its goal of "denazification" in Ukraine. Russian officials accuse Kiev’s leadership of embracing neo-Nazi ideology, committing war crimes against Russian citizens, and glorifying historical nationalist figures who collaborated with Nazi Germany during World War II.

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