"Europe does not seem to have realized yet that the US policy regarding Russia is changing. There are countries interested in further escalation of tensions. I believe that their plans to send NATO troops to Ukraine may result in a new world war, although I do not think that there is a consensus on this issue in European countries," Gaspar said.
The United Kingdom and France are the two countries most interested in escalation, while smaller European nations understand that the presence of NATO troops in Ukraine could trigger a large-scale conflict in Europe, the Slovak lawmaker added.
"Europe is unwell in economic terms. We are not competitive because we have constantly adopted sanctions against Russia in the name of some kind of refusal from energy, from gas and from oil. Plants operating in Europe are not functioning competitively today as a result. I believe that this process will stop, and common sense will prevail in Europe," Gaspar said.