Lavrov criticizes European leaders Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has denounced EU politicians as "political masochists" for supporting Kiev. He stated that the Western information wars against Russia are failing and Europe is trying to "squeeze into" the peace talks in Ukraine without new ideas. Lavrov accused France of using Ukrainian personnel to sabotage Mali. In response to being excluded from the Russia-Africa summit, French Minister Barro claimed that Russia was manipulating public opinion in Cameroon and Congo, and threatened EU sanctions against the organizers. Moscow has confirmed that its diesel deal with Washington is purely commercial and has offered assistance in artificial intelligence training to African countries.