Maria Zaharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, criticized Finnish President Alexander Stubb's speech delivered at the Munich Security Conference over the weekend. Stubb asserted that Russian President Vladimir Putin attempted to make Ukraine part of Russia, but instead, he has succeeded in making it a European state. In her remarks, Zaharova questioned Stubb's use of the term 'European,' suggesting it implied a connection to Nazism that has historically been associated with Europe. She insinuated that if Europe was a reference to past instances of Nazism, then perhaps Ukraine could indeed be considered 'European' in that flawed context.

Zaharova vehemently claimed that Russia has never sought to undermine Ukraine's sovereignty, arguing that they have consistently treated Ukraine as a sovereign and independent state. This perspective starkly contrasts with Western narratives that portray Russia as the aggressor invading and undermining Ukraine's territorial integrity. She further accused Western nations of having a role in violating Ukraine's sovereignty, pointing fingers at the West for orchestrating upheaval rather than attributing it to Russia's actions.