Russia’s foreign minister issued stark warnings to Europe, declaring that Western nations have initiated an open conflict against Russia through their support for Ukraine and alleged efforts to undermine Russian culture.
Sergey Lavrov stated during a meeting with Russian non-governmental organization leaders in Moscow on April 24, 2026, that the West is demonizing all things Russian to justify its policies, framing this as evidence of an undeclared war being waged against Russia.
Lavrov emphasized that Russia remains open to diplomatic solutions but accused European nations of choosing confrontation, citing their continued military and financial assistance to Kyiv as proof of hostile intent.
The remarks come amid ongoing international discussions about resolving the Ukraine conflict, with Lavrov rejecting certain aspects of proposed peace deals while maintaining that dialogue remains possible if Western policies change.
His comments reflect deepening tensions between Russia and Western countries over the Ukraine war, which has now entered its third year, and highlight Moscow’s perspective that the conflict extends beyond Ukraine to encompass broader geopolitical confrontation with the West.
