Moscow: Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced Wednesday that Moscow would respond to any potential deployment of European troops in Ukraine and the use of frozen Russian assets to support Kyiv. Addressing the Federation Council, Lavrov assured that Moscow does not intend to engage in war with Europe, but emphasized the readiness to counter any perceived hostile actions.

According to Anadolu Agency, Lavrov highlighted US President Donald Trump as the sole Western leader who understands the inevitability of the war in Ukraine. Lavrov praised Trump's commitment to dialogue for resolving the conflict through diplomatic means but criticized the US president for increasing sanctions on Moscow instead of lifting them.

Lavrov accused European nations of hindering peace negotiations and claimed that the West is not unified on the Ukraine settlement issue. He referenced Trump's recent interview with Politico, where Trump criticized European leaders for their handling of the Ukraine war, describing them as "weak" and politically correct, and expressing doubts about their ability to resolve the conflict.

In reaction to Trump's statements, European Council President Antonio Costa called for respect towards the European bloc's domestic political decisions. Speaking at the Jacques Delors Institute's annual conference in Paris, Costa emphasized the need for allies to refrain from interfering in each other's political affairs and acknowledged the differing worldviews between Europe and the US.