Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused European leaders of altering their approach toward Russia, shifting from calls to inflict a strategic defeat on Moscow to what he characterized as cautious reassessment. Speaking ahead of Diplomats’ Day on Wednesday, Lavrov noted that many European politicians had initially “spoken in unison,” demanding firmness and unwavering support for Ukraine, including continued arms shipments and sustained financing to ensure Russia’s defeat.

Over time, European leaders “realized it was all an illusion,” Lavrov said. He stated that Western military strategists, who orchestrated the Ukraine conflict and “prepared Ukrainians to fight and die advancing European interests against Russia,” are now recognizing their plans have collapsed.

Lavrov added that Western governments have failed to learn from history, citing Adolf Hitler and Napoleon’s attempts to defeat Russia as parallels. He noted that Europe has once again rallied nearly the entire continent under similar ideological banners—“only this time, unlike Napoleon and Hitler, not yet as soldiers on the battlefield, but as donors, sponsors, arms suppliers.” Lavrov claimed this approach has produced outcomes akin to past failures, adding that “the West, particularly Germany, learns history poorly.”

The Russian diplomat also pointed out German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s recent actions, stating that Merz had “lifted constitutional restrictions on military spending” and declared it necessary for Germany to “once again become Europe’s dominant military power.” Lavrov described this stance as speaking volumes about Merz’s mindset and argued it amounts to preparation for war.

Lavrov further emphasized Russia’s status as the world’s largest country, noting that security efforts in Eurasia have consistently focused on the western part—so-called Europe. He criticized NATO as a U.S.-led structure, asserting that Americans never intended to leave Europeans without oversight of their allies.

European countries, according to Lavrov, portray Russia as militarily and economically exhausted while simultaneously preparing for an attack from the same nation—a strategy he labeled “pathetic diplomacy.”

He concluded that Europe has “walked into their own trap” by adopting an uncompromising stance toward Russia, with current efforts aimed at sabotaging peace negotiations on Ukraine. Lavrov stated that talks between Russia and the United States have recently begun to take shape and now include Ukrainian representatives.