Key facts
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated the EU would prefer Ukraine join NATO over the EU.
- Lavrov believes Ukraine's accession would cause the EU to collapse.
- He suggested Western countries view Ukraine as a proxy against Russia.
- NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte reiterated Ukraine's eventual membership during a recent trip to Kiev.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated that the European Union would prefer Ukraine to join NATO rather than become an EU member, as he believes Ukraine's accession would lead to the collapse of the EU. Lavrov expressed this view in an interview with RT, suggesting that Western countries see Ukraine primarily as a proxy to be used against Russia, rather than as a genuine partner. He argued that the EU leadership understands that admitting Ukraine would be a 'fatal mistake' for the bloc's integrity. Lavrov also pointed to remarks by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who recently reiterated that Ukraine will eventually become a NATO member, despite potential reservations from US President Donald Trump. Lavrov criticized the EU's continued support for Kiev, suggesting it aims to preserve the current regime indefinitely without adherence to international norms. He also commented on the lack of diplomatic dialogue between the EU and Russia in the current climate.