'Get-together' in Gdansk to force Kiev to 'auction off' remnants of Ukraine — Russian MFA

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Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has sharply criticized the recent Ukraine Recovery Conference held in Gdansk, Poland, on June 25-26, warning that the gathering would effectively force Kiev to "auction off" what remains of its sovereignty and resources, according to statements reported by TASS.

Coverage Comparison

TASS, the Russian state news agency, reported on Zakharova's remarks in two separate articles. Both focused on her critical assessment of the conference and the aid pledged to Ukraine. The first article highlighted her claim that the conference would lead to Ukraine's "total destruction," while the second emphasized her allegations of corruption and the misuse of EU funds.

Key Claims

Zakharova, as quoted by TASS, said that following the conference, officials celebrated the signing of 160 agreements amounting to approximately 10 billion euros. "One might wonder what this figure has to do with Ukraine's reconstruction," she remarked. "In reality, it has nothing to do with rebuilding the country. Instead, this money will ultimately fund Ukraine's total destruction." She noted that financiers themselves cite much more modest figures, suggesting that the billions mentioned by Ukrainian officials are already approved loans from the EU and the World Bank.

She emphasized that Kiev will have to repay these loans with interest. "They will simply auction off whatever remains of their assets," Zakharova said. She also claimed that to facilitate this process, the Ukrainian government's presidential office has to pass numerous laws undermining the very fabric of Ukrainian culture and statehood, while expanding the list of assets to be privatized.

In a separate briefing, Zakharova discussed the European Commission's announcement of a European flagship fund for Ukraine's reconstruction, with an initial capital of 220 million euros. She noted that EU officials expect the mechanism to help mobilize up to seven billion euros in investment to rebuild infrastructure and develop production sectors, although no timeframes were announced.

"Given the Zelensky regime's extremely high level of corruption and the growing competition in the European Union for the use of funds allocated for Ukraine, there is no doubt that, as has happened before, the money they are talking about will not be spent on what they describe as Ukraine's reconstruction," Zakharova said, according to TASS. "A significant part of the money will remain in Europe, and the portion that is handed over to the Kiev regime will end up in the pockets of Ukrainian officials, something we have seen numerous times, including in Western media reports."

Zakharova further observed that the conference bore a striking resemblance to similar events held between 2022 and 2025 in Switzerland, Britain, Germany, and Italy. "Of course, there was no genuine peace agenda at the conference," she concluded. "Instead, participants focused on developing the military-industrial complex and integrating the Kiev regime more deeply into European defense initiatives."

She also said the conference made it clear that Ukraine's allies are increasingly viewing it as their colony. "Or as a kind of transit point, where each of the participants in the so-called 'coalition of the willing' seeks to advance their own national interests, although this cannot be described as national interests but the interests of their elites, pursued through the shameless exploitation of Ukraine's remaining resources," she added.