MOSCOW, October 8. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova predicts that European countries’ problems will worsen as a result of their confrontation with Russia.

"The European Union embarked on a path of confrontation with our country, initially under pressure from the United States and then simply out of inertia. And this path will not allow it to resolve its pressing issues, indeed, it will never allow it to do so," the diplomat said at a briefing. She explained: "Because this path will only exacerbate the problems Europe already faces."

Zakharova stressed that the EU leadership "quite deliberately and consciously chooses to ignore this simple truth."

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman also pointed to those who truly benefit from Europe’s current course: "The forces behind the fomenting of Nazism and fascism in the heart of Western Europe included forces from outside Europe. The hybrid threat to Europe comes not from Russia at all, but either from its own political elites, from the reckless and irresponsible policies they pursue, or from those outside the European continent who sponsor the escalation of conflicts within Europe."

Zakharova attributed the unsubstantiated accusations of hybrid attacks against Russia made by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas to a desire "to shift the European public’s attention away from the mounting problems in their own countries and toward an imaginary 'Russian threat.'"

"The more serious the problems EU countries face as a result of their own mistakes and miscalculations, stemming from their decision to embark on a path of hybrid warfare against our country, the more incredible and far-reaching the plans they attribute to Russia in this sphere become," the diplomat stated.

According to Zakharova, "this confrontational rhetoric is being used to justify large-scale military preparations, increased support for the Kiev regime, provocations, and confrontational actions against Russian citizens and legal entities."

"Citizens and businesses in European countries are already feeling the full consequences of this approach. These include soaring levels of government debt in these countries, problems with energy poverty and security, and declining output in key industrial sectors," the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said.