Dmitry Medvedev, said European countries have failed to defeat Russia in Ukraine and have instead inflicted serious economic damage on themselves, as he criticised EU policy, praised Donald Trump as a leader who seeks peace, and said Russia would “soon” achieve military victory in the war.
Speaking in an interview with Reuters, TASS and the WarGonzo Russian war blogger on Sunday at his residence outside Moscow, Medvedev, Russia’s Security Council Deputy Chairman, said Europe’s approach was driven by political ambition rather than strategic reality.
He said European powers wanted to “inflict a strategic defeat on Russia” but “have achieved nothing”, arguing that sanctions and energy restrictions have backfired on EU economies.
“Europe has surprised me a lot,” Medvedev said. “Because through its own actions it is undermining the very foundations of its existence. It is just amazing.”
He said Europe may dislike Russia’s political system and leadership, but questioned why it would damage itself to punish Moscow.
“But when, in order to achieve some personal or narrow political goals, it destroys the foundations of its own economic well-being just to punish Russia, that is astonishing,” he said.
“We know what happened with energy, and with the supply of a whole range of other raw materials and agricultural products to Europe. Prices are rising, inflation is rising, and there are numerous problems,” he said.
“All of this is being done to spite Russia and, on the other hand, to show some sort of solidarity with Ukraine. They have achieved nothing. The situation is only getting worse.”
“Overall, I have the feeling that a gang of lunatics, those at the helm of the European Union, has seized power in Europe,” he said.
“Now it is a group of madmen, either completely inadequate and incompetent, including those responsible for international affairs and leadership of the EU, or those who are harming their own countries that put them in office.”
Medvedev said Trump was an effective and unconventional leader and that contacts between Moscow and Washington had become more productive under his administration.
“Trump wants to go down in history as a peacemaker - and he is really trying,” he said. “He is really trying to do that. And that is why contacts with Americans have become much more productive.”
He described Trump as emotional but strategic.
“He is an emotional person, but on the other hand, I would not agree with those who say that his actions create chaos. Clearly, there is a very deliberate and well-thought-out approach behind it,” Medvedev said.
Referring to Trump’s past claim that he had moved U.S. nuclear submarines closer to Russia, Medvedev added: “We still have not found them.”
Medvedev said Russia would “soon” win military victory in Ukraine, but stressed that preventing future wars was just as important.
“Soon,” Medvedev said when asked when Russia would win the war. “I would like this to happen as soon as possible.”
“But it is equally important to think about what will happen next. After all, the goal of victory is to prevent new conflicts. This is absolutely obvious.”
Russia currently controls about a fifth of Ukrainian territory but has so far been unable to seize the whole of the eastern Donbas region, where Ukrainian forces still hold roughly 10% of the area, according to open-source maps.
Medvedev said the objectives of what Moscow calls its “special military operation” were set out by Vladimir Putin at the start of the war and “have remained largely unchanged”.
Passengers restrained a flydubai co-pilot who allegedly stabbed the pilot and tried to crash a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, Israeli Prime Ministe...
Three Pakistani sailors are among five crew members killed after a tanker hijacked by pirates off Somalia was recovered by Puntland security forces...
Afghanistan says its forces have killed 41 fighters and captured 62 others after several days of fighting in eastern Nuristan, accusing Pakistan&rs...
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has accused the U.S. and Israel of seeking to foment internal divisions in Iran after failing to defeat the country militarily, Iran's state news agency IRNA reported.
The European Union's decision to simultaneously advance accession talks with Ukraine, Moldova, Montenegro and Albania marks its most ambitious enlargement effort in more than two decades.
U.S. President Donald Trump has denied reports that he offered Iran sanctions relief and access to frozen funds in exchange for nuclear concessions.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 30 September 2026. These are the top five stories making headlines in Europe.
Passengers restrained a flydubai co-pilot who allegedly stabbed the pilot and tried to crash a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday.
Passengers restrained a flydubai co-pilot who allegedly stabbed the pilot and tried to crash a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday.
Three Pakistani sailors are among five crew members killed after a tanker hijacked by pirates off Somalia was recovered by Puntland security forces following more than five months in captivity.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Azerbaijan’s Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev discussed closer bilateral ties and the implementation of existing agreements during a meeting in Tehran.
The war between Iran and the U.S. is creating a widening security challenge for Saudi Arabia, stretching from Yemen’s Red Sea coast to Iraq as the Houthis emerge as a growing source of pressure on the kingdom.
North Korea has dismissed as a “farce” Seoul’s claim that Pyongyang was responsible for a landmine explosion south of the Military Demarcation Line that injured three South Korean soldiers.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment