'EU doves of peace' now serving defense industry interests — Security Council

Lead

In an interview with TASS, Deputy Secretary of Russia's Security Council Yury Kokov delivered sharp criticism of European Union leaders, accusing them of aligning with defense industry interests at the expense of their own citizens. His remarks, reported by TASS on July 16, also referenced recent NATO commitments to increased defense spending and continued support for Ukraine.

Coverage Comparison

TASS, the Russian state news agency, reported Kokov's comments in two separate articles. The first, dated July 16, focused on his broader accusations that European leaders have 'betrayed their peoples' and made them 'hostages of a military-terrorist alliance.' The second article, also published July 16, specifically targeted the EU, with Kokov describing the bloc's leaders as 'EU doves of peace' who have become 'tied up in serving the interests of defense corporations.'

Both articles rely solely on Kokov's statements, without presenting counterarguments or alternative perspectives. The tone in both is critical and condemnatory, with direct quotations dominating the reports.

Key Claims

Kokov asserted that European leaders, motivated by political ambitions, have effectively betrayed their peoples by aligning with what he called a 'military-terrorist alliance' that serves transnational corporations based in London and Washington. He claimed that under the guise of counter-terrorism missions, these leaders invade 'disloyal states,' overthrow democratically elected authorities, and plunder natural resources—all in violation of the UN Charter. He also criticized the application of 'double standards,' where the same radical group could be labeled terrorist or 'fighter for democracy' based on opportunistic interests.

Regarding NATO, Kokov pointed to the final declaration of the NATO summit in Ankara, saying member states increased defense investments by more than $139 billion in 2025 and committed to further militarizing their budgets. He also noted that NATO plans to allocate €70 billion to Ukraine this year and the same amount next year.

Kokov further argued that support for the 'Kiev regime' constitutes a betrayal of the historical memory of peoples who suffered from Nazism, and that Brussels' patronage demonstrates how deeply EU leaders have become tied to defense corporations while ignoring their own citizens.

No independent verification of Kokov's claims was available in the provided material; all figures and statements originate from his interview with TASS.