Medvedev says Putin should lead the "free world" in response to EU diplomat.
The former Russian president mocked the European attempt to replace the United States in global leadership and criticized the EU's dependence on Washington.
247 - Former Russian President and current Vice Chairman of the Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, stated that Vladimir Putin should assume the role of "leader of the free world." The statement was made in an interview with the Russian news agency. RIA Novosti this Saturday (2), in response to the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas. The Estonian diplomat suggested that the European bloc should replace the United States in the position of global leadership, after Washington's change of stance towards Ukraine.
On Friday (1st), Kallas expressed solidarity with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who engaged in a verbal clash with Donald Trump at the White House. The former US president accused Zelensky of not showing gratitude for US military assistance and of being reluctant to negotiate a ceasefire in the war with Russia. In response, the Ukrainian pressed for more military support and warned that a possible interruption of aid could harm the United States' own interests.
In light of the situation, Kallas stated: “Ukraine is Europe! We stand with Ukraine. We will strengthen our support so that they can continue to confront the aggressor. Today it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It is up to us, Europeans, to take on this challenge.”
Medvedev's response was ironic. "The world needs a leader, and he exists. His name is Vladimir Putin," declared the former Russian president. He also downplayed the European Union's ability to become an autonomous power in relation to Washington. "They will make some noise, post identical messages on social media, and then return to their enclosure. Europe is a fragile and quarrelsome old woman, totally dependent on the protection of the United States," he stated.
The former Russian president reiterated that Moscow remains willing to negotiate a solution to the conflict in Ukraine, but stressed that this must happen under Russia's conditions. "We have always been ready for negotiations, but any dialogue requires reciprocal steps. We will only accept those that correspond to the reality on the ground and to our basic legal framework," he declared.
While the European Union maintains its military support for Kyiv, Russia has praised Trump's stance, which advocates a negotiated solution to the conflict. Moscow openly criticizes the EU's strategy, which, according to the Kremlin, only prolongs hostilities by continuing to arm Ukraine.
