Russian FM Lavrov revives Hitler and Napoleon to sell endless war to Russians

2025-12-17 18:26 4 min

Russia is accusing the European Union of acting like Nazi Germany in connection with its support for Ukraine, according to ISW. The think tank said the messaging aims to portray Europe as an enemy of the Russian people and supports efforts to militarize Russian society.

This comes amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, as many of Russia’s propaganda and information operations abroad are directed against Kyiv’s allies supporting Ukraine with military, humanitarian, and economic assistance. Lavrov accuses European leaders of Nazism

In its 16 December report, the Institute for the Study of War said Russia is using information efforts to frame the EU and specific European countries as comparable to Nazi Germany. ISW assessed that this supports efforts "to further militarize Russian society."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made several such claims in a 15 December interview with Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting. He claimed Europe is allegedly waging war “under a Nazi flag” through its support for Ukraine. Lavrov claimed leadership in Belgium, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and the Baltic States is reviving “the theory and practice of Nazism.”

Editor’s note: In reality, Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014 and launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. Since then, it has destroyed dozens of Ukrainian towns and cities, committed thousands of well-documented war crimes, and pursued policies aimed at eradicating Ukrainians as a nation.

Lavrov also claimed that Germany is ostensibly undergoing a “resurgence of militarism” and referenced Finland in relation to Adolf Hitler and the Siege of Leningrad. ISW noted these references likely relate to events that carry historical significance for Russians. Lavrov compared current European leaders to Adolf Hitler and Napoleon Bonaparte, describing them as existential threats to Russia.

ISW noted that these claims differ from previous Russian messaging about Ukraine. Earlier narratives focused on allegations that Ukraine’s leadership is neo-Nazi and involved in a claimed genocidal campaign against Russian-speaking people.

Soviet narratives used to justify further sacrifice

ISW stated that Lavrov’s use of the word “Nazi” is intended to define current European countries and their leaders as enemies of the Russian people. According to the report, this language recalls "Soviet narratives of patriotism to prepare the Russian population to accept greater levels of sacrifices in the pursuit of the ideological defense of the Russian state for an indeterminate amount of time.."