Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated on Saturday that aggressive actions taken against Russia would result in a “decisive response.”
This statement comes amid speculation among NATO members that Russia may be looking to extend its conflict with Ukraine to other Eastern European nations, especially after reports of Russian jets flying near Estonia and drones being detected in Polish and Romanian airspace.
“Russia has no intention to threaten any European borders,” Lavrov asserted on Saturday. He emphasized, however, that an attack on Russia would provoke a strong reaction, urging EU citizens to have no doubt about this. He made these comments during an address at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
As the situation evolves, world leaders are closely observing Moscow’s maneuvers regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine, which started over three years ago. Recently, Lavrov accused NATO and the EU of engaging in a “real war” against Russia, asserting that both organizations are actively involved in the conflict in Ukraine.
In August, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with former President Trump to discuss a possible ceasefire, but those talks have since stalled. Following that, Putin ordered strikes in Kyiv and launched attacks on other Ukrainian cities.
Nonetheless, Lavrov maintained on Saturday that the objective remains to contain the conflict in Ukraine.
“The idea that Russia is planning an attack on NATO or the EU is becoming more prevalent,” he remarked. “President Putin has repeatedly rejected these provocations. Russia has never had such intentions, but any attack on our country will trigger a decisive response.”
Lavrov also acknowledged the worries surrounding drones entering other nations’ airspace, expressing an understanding of the need for security measures when national boundaries are breached.
“If a drone is hovering outside our territory, other countries have the right to respond to ensure their security,” he explained during a press conference following his UN address. “However, if we attempt to intercept any object flying within our airspace, it is seen as a serious violation of our sovereignty.”
