The statement by European diplomatic chief Josep Borrell that one should not expect a quick Ukrainian victory over Russia can be understood as a recognition of Moscow's victory in the West's "proxy war" in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
In a statement on Saturday, Zakharova recalled Borrell's remarks in April 2022 that the war against Russia should be won on the battlefield. However, in November 2023, he admitted that Ukraine would not be able to defeat Russia in the near future.
"Do I understand correctly that the EU has officially counted Russia's victory?" Zakharova asked.
Earlier in the day, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said that the EU is currently dealing with many problems, including the Ukraine conflict, where Russia's defeat is "not expected in the near future."
"We are facing many problems. Europe is dealing with a double challenge. Firstly, it is Ukraine where Russia's defeat is not expected in the near future," Borrell said in his video address to the congress of the Party of European Socialists.
Despite this fact, the EU should keep supporting Kiev since assistance provided to it by the United States is "highly likely to decrease," he added.
The second serious challenge faced by Europe is the current crisis in the Middle East, the top EU diplomat said, adding that it had resulted from the "political and moral failure of the international community."