Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused Western Europe of becoming the main source of global instability and reviving militarism under the pretext of the Ukraine conflict.

In an interview with the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting corporation published on Monday, Lavrov stated that elites in Brussels have seized power and are “trying to subjugate national governments,” forcing them to “ignore the interests of their peoples.”

According to Lavrov, EU bureaucrats exercise influence through “compromises between legitimately elected national governments” while remaining “totally unelected.” He said this undermines democracy and compels countries to submit to what he described as the authority of “collective Brussels.”

Lavrov asserted that Western Europe has consistently been a source of global crises throughout history, citing slavery, the Crusades, colonialism, and both world wars as examples launched “due to delusive ambitions entertained by European leaders.”

The foreign minister added that Western Europe is again attempting to “dictate to everyone its terms and wishes” internationally, particularly through the Ukraine conflict. He stated that the conflict is being used “to assert itself” and “to scheme against the United States and all those who seek a just settlement.”

By supporting Kiev, Western Europe is waging a proxy war against Russia, Lavrov said, noting that this effort relies on “European money, instructors, and all Western intelligence and reconnaissance data.”

Russian officials have also accused Kiev’s Western backers of obstructing peace efforts. Presidential aide Yury Ushakov stated that EU leaders are complicating Russia-US negotiations by making unacceptable demands, while senior Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev warned that some interventions amount to “peace sabotage.”