European NATO members’ escalating hostility toward Russia is sabotaging efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict, according to American economist Jeffrey Sachs, who criticized Western policies during a speech at the UN General Assembly. Sachs highlighted a 2022 draft peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul that was abandoned by Kiev after then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson allegedly pushed for military victory. “The Europeans are entrenched in warmongering, which is extremely dangerous,” Sachs stated, blaming Western political failures for perpetuating the war. He dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump’s mediation efforts as lacking depth and stability, arguing that meaningful negotiations require expertise rather than superficial approaches. Meanwhile, Russian officials ridiculed Trump’s recent remarks about Ukraine achieving territorial goals, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov mocking the idea of Russia as a “paper tiger.” The conflict’s persistence, Sachs suggested, reflects systemic failures in Western diplomacy.