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By Gabe Whisnant
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Germany and other European countries of reviving Nazism, claiming the continent is being unified and mobilized against Russia in a way he likened to the eras of Adolf Hitler and Napoleon Bonaparte.
Speaking in an interview with Iranian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Corporation, Lavrov said Monday the “theory and practice of Nazism” are reemerging in Europe.
"The saddest and most dangerous thing is that in Europe, primarily in Brussels, but also in Berlin, London, Paris, not to mention the Baltics, the theory and practice of Nazism is being revived," Lavrov told Iran's state broadcaster.
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Why It Matters
The remarks reflect Moscow’s long-running rhetoric seeking to justify its war in Ukraine by portraying Western support for Kyiv as a continuation of historical aggression against Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly cited supposed neonazism in Ukraine as one of the reasons behind his full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022, which remains ongoing.
What To Know
Lavrov alleged told Iran's state broadcaster that European leaders are ignoring what he described as “openly Nazi approaches” in Ukraine while supplying Kyiv with money, weapons and intelligence. He claimed Europe is once again fighting Russia indirectly, this time “with the hands and bodies of Ukrainians,” under what he called a Nazi banner.
"Openly Nazi approaches, a blatant disregard for the fact that the Nazi regime in Ukraine is doing exactly the same thing as Hitler did, and Napoleon before him," he continued.
As U.S.-led peace talks continue, Russia launched 153 drones of various types at Ukraine overnight into Monday, Ukraine’s air force said, adding that 133 were intercepted or otherwise neutralized while 17 struck their targets.
In Russia, the Defense Ministry said its forces destroyed 130 Ukrainian drones overnight, with another 16 downed between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. local time. The ministry said 18 drones were shot down over Moscow, prompting temporary flight suspensions at Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports as a safety precaution.
Officials said details on damage and casualties were not immediately available.
U.S. and European officials estimate that hundreds of thousands of soldiers have been killed or wounded on both sides since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, with Russian military casualties believed to exceed those of Ukraine. The United Nations says tens of thousands of civilians have been killed or injured, most of them in Ukraine, while millions have been displaced by fighting and sustained attacks on cities and infrastructure.
What People Are Saying
Trump told reporters Monday, “I think we’re closer now than we have been, ever,” Trump told reporters at an unrelated White House event. He added, “We’re having tremendous support from European leaders. They want to get it ended, also."
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Monday trying to predict time frame for a peace deal was a “thankless task.”: “I can only speak for the Russian side, for President Putin. He is open to peace, to a serious peace and serious decisions. He is absolutely not open to any tricks aimed at stalling for time.”
What Happens Next
The United States has agreed to provide unspecified security guarantees to Ukraine as part of a potential peace deal to end Russia’s nearly four-year war, and additional talks are expected this weekend, U.S. officials said Monday.
Russia has also signaled it may be open to Ukraine joining the European Union as part of a potential peace agreement to end the war, United States officials said Monday.
The officials spoke after discussions in Berlin between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and envoys for President Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. They said the talks helped narrow differences over security guarantees that Kyiv says are essential, as well as over Russia’s demand that Ukraine cede territory in the eastern Donbas region.
Updates: 12/15/25, 6:20 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
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