The Kremlin on Thursday accused European countries of planning to "militarize" rather than seek peace, as Western military chiefs gathered in Britain to discuss how to protect Ukraine.
Major European powers, including France and the UK, have sought to boost military spending since Donald Trump took office in January, amid fears the US is no longer committed to European defense.
As Trump builds closer ties with the Kremlin, Russia has shifted much of its anger over the three-year Ukraine conflict towards Europe, accusing the EU and UK of being the main obstacles to peace.
"For the most part, the signals from Brussels and European capitals concern plans to militarize Europe," spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, including AFP.
"Europe has embarked on a militarisation of itself and has turned into somewhat of a war party."
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, co-leader of efforts to form the so-called "coalition of the willing" alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, is expected to address a meeting of roughly 30 military officials later.
Both Starmer and Macron have said they are willing to deploy peacekeepers in Ukraine following a ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv, an idea Russia has vehemently rejected.
Macron has also said he would open a discussion on extending France's nuclear umbrella to the entire EU.
Russia's Sergei Shoigu, secretary of the Security Council, said Thursday such statements "reflect the anti-Russian sentiment that reigns in Europe today."
Moscow also took aim at Berlin after chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz proposed a huge spending boost on defense and said Moscow was waging a "war of aggression against Europe."
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the comments were a reflection of the "German political elites' desire for historical revenge," adding that Russia had no plans to attack, and "if Germany makes such statements, it means Germany has the plans."
With AFP
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