Russian Foreign Minister Asserts No Intent to Attack NATO or EU

Wed Oct 22 2025 01:50:38 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Amid rising tensions and accusations from Western nations, Sergei Lavrov reaffirms Russia's stance of non-aggression while warning against external threats.

In a speech at the UN General Assembly, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov declared that Russia has no intention of attacking NATO or EU states but warned of a severe response to any perceived aggression. He criticized the increasing threats from Western countries and condemned Israeli actions in the Gaza conflict, advocating for Palestinian rights while addressing broader geopolitical tensions, including relationships with Iran and the West.

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, saying that while Russia condemned the 7 October 2023 attacks by Hamas, there was no justification for the brutal killings of Palestinians in Gaza or plans to annex the West Bank.

At least 65,926 people have been killed by Israeli strikes, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, while about 1,200 were killed and 251 others were taken hostage during the 7 October attacks.

Lavrov decried Israeli aggression towards other Middle Eastern countries that could threaten to blow up the region.

Speaking about tensions in Europe, Lavrov stated: Threats of force against Russia, accused of practically planning an attack on the North Atlantic Alliance [NATO] and the European Union, are becoming increasingly common. President Putin has repeatedly debunked such provocations.

However, he assured that Russia has never had and does not have such intentions to attack but any aggression against the country would meet a decisive response. This follows accusations from Denmark regarding drone sightings over its airports, which Russia denied responsibility for.

Confirming the strained U.S.-Russian relations, Lavrov emphasized the desire to resolve the Ukrainian crisis pragmatically, pushing back against a backdrop of accusations and escalated military preparedness among NATO member states.