MOSCOW, September 30. /TASS/. European politicians are portraying Russia as a threat in an effort to remain in power, while the ongoing crisis in the European Union and growing public discontent are threatening the political elites with losing their positions, Federation Council Deputy Foreign Affairs Committee Chair and former Donetsk People’s Republic Foreign Minister Natalia Nikonorova told TASS.

Earlier in September, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Western countries were actively preparing for a war against Russia by fostering the myth of an alleged Russian threat. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico also said that "an excuse is being sought for a major conflict between NATO and Russia" and that, in his view, the EU budget for 2028-2034 was being drafted to serve the interests of arms companies.

"Some European politicians regularly make hostile, Russophobic statements, and this is certainly nothing new for us. It is quite possible that this is simply an attempt to persuade their population, frightened by the mythical ‘Russian threat,’ to continue bearing the burden of endless payments for the needs of the Kiev regime and the Ukrainian armed forces, as well as to provide for Ukrainian refugees. The global crisis in the European Union and the overt discontent among broad sections of society pose a serious threat to the current European leaders’ hold on power," Nikonorova said.

She added that Russia’s top officials have repeatedly stated that the country has no intention of waging war against Europe. Nikonorova also stressed that "despite the huge financial investments made by a number of Western countries in Ukraine’s defense, which is ‘fighting’ mainly against civilian infrastructure, the Russian army is confidently advancing on the front."

"In the current circumstances, the key to peace is precisely the policy Russia is pursuing now: achieving all the stated goals of the special military operation, maintaining military-technical superiority and rejecting half-measures in efforts to resolve the Ukrainian conflict peacefully. And if Europe nevertheless openly enters the conflict, all that remains is to remind them once again of the words of our President Vladimir Putin that this war will be ‘completely different and very short,’" she said.