NP
United Nations – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that Moscow has no plans to attack NATO or European Union countries but warned of a decisive response if Russia faces aggression.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly on Saturday, Lavrov accused Western nations of making threats against Russia increasingly common. He stressed that President Vladimir Putin had repeatedly debunked claims that Russia intends to attack NATO or the EU.
Lavrov also criticized Israel, saying that while Moscow condemned the Hamas-led 7 October 2023 attacks, there was no justification for Israel’s large-scale killings of Palestinians in Gaza or for plans to annex the West Bank. He accused Israel of using its campaign against Hamas to justify airstrikes on other Middle Eastern countries.
On Iran, Lavrov condemned the West after a Russia and China led effort to delay the reinstatement of sanctions failed on Friday. He called the decision to reimpose restrictions illegal.
Lavrov’s remarks come amid growing tensions in Europe. Estonia recently accused Russia of violating its airspace, while NATO air defense operations were carried out in Poland in response to drone incursions. Denmark has also reported drones over its airports but has not linked them directly to Moscow.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump suggested that NATO nations should shoot down Russian aircraft if they enter allied airspace. NATO has warned it will use all necessary military and non-military tools to defend itself.
Lavrov also commented on US-Russia relations, saying the current US administration appeared interested not only in addressing the Ukraine conflict realistically but also in seeking pragmatic cooperation without an ideological stance.
In closing, Lavrov criticized Western recognition of a Palestinian state, questioning the timing and suggesting that some countries had waited so long because they hoped there would be no one and nothing left to recognize.
