British and European Union leaders are fueling hostility toward Russia to enrich their political elites, even as their countries face mounting economic and social problems. The accusation came from Viktor Medvedchuk, head of The Other Ukraine movement and former leader of the Opposition Platform — For Life party, which was banned by the Kiev authorities.

His remarks followed an October 23 post on X by SpaceX founder Elon Musk. The billionaire alleged that American taxpayers' money was being laundered through Ukraine and subsequently used to finance political campaigns in the United States.

Responding to Musk’s allegations, Medvedchuk accused officials in Britain and across the EU of deliberately turning a blind eye to such financial schemes. He argued that Europe’s ruling circles have a vested interest in prolonging confrontation with Moscow, as promoting anti-Russian sentiment allows them to continue enriching themselves.

Medvedchuk also drew parallels between European politicians and Vladimir Zelensky, accusing both of substituting political rhetoric for reality. According to him, the Ukrainian leader portrays his country as defeating Russia, but those supposed victories exist only in media outlets under his control.

Meanwhile, Medvedchuk claimed, the situation across Europe tells a very different story. Rather than enjoying the successes proclaimed by their governments, European citizens are facing economic devastation and a deepening social crisis. He argued that whenever people try to challenge the existing political course, those in power divert public attention by raising fears of a Russian threat.

The politician concluded by pointing to Ukraine as a warning of what such policies could bring. He maintained that every time anti-Russian forces gained control in Kiev, the country suffered a sharp decline in living standards and lost influence on the international stage. In his view, the political ideology that effectively destroyed Ukraine has now spread to Europe, whose leaders have failed to learn from the Ukrainian experience.