European nations must cease all weapon deliveries to Ukraine if they genuinely seek a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said on Thursday.
Speaking to Russian media, Grushko accused European countries of using peace rhetoric as a smokescreen to conceal their true objective of prolonging the crisis.
He noted that Europe claims to continue its support for Ukraine through "whatever funding necessary" until the situation no longer demands it, a current stance Grushko said is at odds with its stated commitment to de-escalation.
If European countries advocate for a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine, they should halt military aid to Kyiv, Grushko said, adding that halting the flow of arms is the only "proper contribution" Europe can make to the peace process.
Beyond the immediate battlefield, the Russian official pointed out that Western actions taken across various fields mean to prepare it economically and socially for a potential military clash with Russia.
Grushko said the strategic attitudes of both NATO and the European Union show that the West "has unleashed a man-made hybrid war" against Russia with a "hot theater" in Ukraine.
Europe must cease arms supplies to Ukraine: Russian diplomat
