Updated 1:17 p.m. Moscow time
MOSCOW, October 14 (RIA Novosti) – European leaders have supported the "party of war" in Kiev, ignoring the interests of their own people, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday.
"Throughout several months that followed this year's February [coup in Ukraine], European capitals have, in fact, supported the party of war. They poured political and economic resources into it, including anti-Russian sanctions. Moreover, it was done contrary to what the Europeans themselves wanted," Lavrov said.
According to an ICM poll commissioned by International Information Agency Rossiya Segodnya and released last week, less than half of the population of the United Kingdom, France and Germany think that the European Union should participate in the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.
The crisis in Ukraine escalated this spring, when Kiev launched a military operation against independence supporters in the country's southeastern regions, who refused to recognize the new government, which came to power following the February coup.
The West has been accusing Russia of aggravating the situation in Ukraine and has imposed several rounds of economic sanctions against Russia over its alleged involvement in the Ukrainian crisis.
Moscow has repeatedly stressed that it does not interfere in Ukraine's internal affairs, calling for a cessation of violence in the country.
