Russia Asserts No Plans to Attack EU or NATO Amid Rising Tensions

Tue Oct 14 2025 05:59:56 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov insists there's no intention of military aggression towards EU or NATO states while addressing growing Western threats.

In a recent speech to the UN General Assembly, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Russia has no plans to launch any military attacks on NATO or EU member countries. He warned, however, of a 'decisive response' to perceived aggression towards Russia. The minister accused Western nations of increasingly threatening rhetoric and emphasized Russia's longstanding condemnation of the violence in the Middle East, particularly regarding the situation in Gaza. Lavrov also criticized Israeli actions and the role of Western powers in international relations.

Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov says his country has no intention of attacking EU or NATO member states but warned of a decisive response to any aggression directed towards Moscow.

In a wide-ranging speech delivered at the UN General Assembly on Saturday, Lavrov said threats against Russia by Western countries were becoming increasingly common.

He also took aim at Israel, stating that while Russia condemned the 7 October 2023 attacks by Hamas, there was no justification for the brutal killings of Palestinians in Gaza, nor for plans to annex the West Bank.

Israel has previously claimed its Gaza operation is necessary to dismantle Hamas.

According to the Hamas-run health ministry, at least 65,926 people have been killed due to Israeli strikes, while around 1,200 were killed, and 251 others were taken hostage during the initial October attacks.

Lavrov warned Israeli aggression towards neighboring countries could threaten regional stability and stressed Russia's commitment to a decisive response against any aggression. He defended Moscow's stance against accusations of planning attacks and criticized Western narratives as unfounded.

He also highlighted recent diplomatic setbacks regarding sanctions on Iran, accusing Western countries of undermining peace efforts, and expressed concern over NATO's military activities along Russia's borders.

Lavrov's remarks come amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, with increasing military incursions and provocative rhetoric from both sides in the context of the broader conflict in Ukraine.