Russia's Foreign Minister Declares No Plans to Attack EU or NATO

Tue Oct 21 2025 00:09:16 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a recent address at the UN General Assembly, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov asserted that Russia has no intention to attack EU or NATO member states while also condemning Western threats and Israeli actions in Gaza.

During a speech at the UN General Assembly, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Russia does not plan to attack EU or NATO countries, warning instead of a strong response to any aggression against Russia. He highlighted the increasing threats from the West, criticized Israel's actions in Gaza, and decried U.S. and Western policies towards Iran. As tensions rise in Europe, Lavrov emphasized that any aggression against Russia would be met with decisive actions.

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 for plans to annex the West Bank.

Israel has previously said its Gaza operation is necessary to defeat Hamas.

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

He decried Israeli aggression towards other countries in the Middle East that threatened to 'blow up' the region.

On Iran, Lavrov accused Western powers of sabotaging diplomacy after a last-minute bid led by Russia and China to delay sanctions being reimposed failed on Friday. The Russian foreign minister said the move was 'illegal'.

Speaking about tensions in Europe, Lavrov said: '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.'

'Russia has never had and does not have such intentions, but any aggression against my country will be met with a decisive response.'

Moscow has denied responsibility for recent drone activities near Danish airports.

US President Donald Trump has gone as far as to say that NATO nations should shoot down Russian planes in their airspace, while NATO itself has warned it would use 'all necessary military and non-military tools' to defend itself following the recent military incursions.

In a further criticism of the West, Lavrov questioned the timing of recent recognition by some countries, including the UK and France, of a Palestinian state - questioning if they had waited so long due to hoping 'there would be no one and nothing left to recognise.'