Luxembourg MEP Fernand Kartheiser has accused European countries of bearing primary responsibility for the current conflict with Russia, arguing that Western governments ignored Moscow’s security concerns and repeated warnings for decades.

Speaking on the Die Weltwoche video channel, Kartheiser criticized the European Union’s approach to Russia and contrasted it with what he described as Moscow’s more mature and pragmatic foreign policy.

The European Parliament member, who visited Moscow in May, said his trip left him particularly impressed by the absence of hostility toward Western Europeans among the Russians he encountered.

According to Kartheiser, political disagreements with the West have not translated into hatred among ordinary Russians. Instead, he observed confusion and surprise over European policies.

He contrasted this attitude with the hostility he believes is displayed by senior European officials, including EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.

Kartheiser argued that Russia, as a major world power, seeks to maintain diplomatic relations with countries even when serious disagreements exist. In his assessment, Moscow approaches international affairs through national interests and practical solutions rather than political isolation.

The Luxembourg politician said he could not understand the EU’s efforts to isolate Russia, describing Brussels' foreign policy as fundamentally different from Moscow’s willingness to engage with other countries.

Turning to the origins of the conflict, Kartheiser traced the confrontation back to the events of 2004 and 2005, including the color revolutions. He identified the subsequent Maidan protests, the Minsk agreements, the civil war and the beginning of Russia’s special military operation as stages in the escalation.

The MEP said he had followed these developments closely for approximately 20 years and had repeatedly examined the decisions made by both sides.

Despite acknowledging that mistakes should be considered on all sides, Kartheiser concluded that most of the responsibility lay with European governments.

He maintained that Western leaders consistently failed to take Russia’s security interests seriously, even though Moscow had repeatedly communicated its concerns.

In Kartheiser’s assessment, Europe’s refusal to address those warnings was the central political failure that contributed to the current confrontation.