Russia says no plan to attack EU or NATO, vows decisive response to aggression at UN
Lavrov tells the United Nations General Assembly that Western threats against Moscow are rising, while criticizing Israel’s Gaza operation, Iran diplomacy, and the pace of Palestinian state recognitions
Russia has no intention of attacking EU or NATO member states, but any aggression against Moscow will be met with a decisive response, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday.
Lavrov said threats against Russia by Western powers have grown more common as Moscow seeks to defend its interests amid Europe’s security crisis, a framing that reflects the broader tension between Moscow and the West amid the war in Ukraine and a tense international climate surrounding the Middle East.
In a wide-ranging address, Lavrov tied the confrontation to the Middle East, saying Russia condemns the 7 October 2023 attacks by Hamas but that there is no justification for the brutal killings of Palestinians in Gaza or for any plan to annex the West Bank. The Russian foreign minister cited casualty figures from the Hamas-run health ministry, saying more than 65,926 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza, while about 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage in the October 7 attacks. He argued that Israel has used its campaign against Hamas to justify air strikes on other Middle Eastern countries, including Qatar.
On Iran, Lavrov accused Western powers of sabotaging diplomacy after a last-minute bid led by Russia and China to delay sanctions—an effort that failed as the measures were set to come into force at 00:00 GMT on Sunday. He characterized the Western approach to the issue as illegal and said Moscow would respond to what it sees as hostile moves from Washington and its allies.
Speaking about tensions in Europe, Lavrov warned that threats of force against Russia, including insinuations of an attack on NATO or the European Union, are becoming increasingly common. He reiterated Moscow’s position that Russia has never had and does not have such intentions, but warned that any aggression against his country will be met with a decisive response. The context included recent events in northern Europe, with Denmark reporting drones flying over its airports and saying the incidents appeared to be the work of a professional actor, though there was no evidence of Russian involvement. Estonia has accused Russia of violating its airspace with warplanes, and NATO conducted an air defence mission over Poland following Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace. U.S. President Donald Trump has urged NATO members to shoot down Russian planes in their airspace, while NATO has warned it would use all necessary military and non-military tools to defend itself after the incursions.
Lavrov also addressed the broader U.S.–Russia relationship, saying that in the approaches of the current U.S. administration there is a stated aim to resolve the Ukrainian crisis pragmatically without aligning it to ideological dogma, and to pursue practical cooperation when possible. He offered a pointed critique of the Western perception of diplomacy, saying that Western capitals have often treated the Ukraine question as a test of resolve rather than a path to a negotiated settlement.
In another section of his speech, Lavrov criticized the timing of recent recognitions of a Palestinian state by several Western governments, including the United Kingdom and France, suggesting that such moves appeared contingent on political calculations rather than immediate regional realities. He argued that the international community should approach the Middle East with caution and respect for an independent, secure state for Palestinians, while warning against unilateral steps that could complicate prospects for peace.
Lavrov’s remarks come amid a period of heightened global tension involving the Ukraine war, Western sanctions on Iran, and a difficult, simmering set of regional confrontations in the Middle East. His speech at the UN General Assembly framed Russia as rejecting Western coercive strategies while asserting a willingness to defend its sovereignty if challenged, a position Moscow has maintained since the invasion of Ukraine. The comments also reflect Russia’s effort to portray itself as a stabilizing, if adversarial, party in international diplomacy, even as Western governments view Moscow as a principal disruptor of the post-World War II security order.
The international environment remains volatile as Western alliances seek to deter further Russian aggression while balancing dialogue with Moscow on issues ranging from arms control to regional crises. Lavrov’s speech underscored Moscow’s intent to present a defense of its national interests on the world stage, even as many capitals weigh sanctions, diplomacy, and military readiness in response to Russia’s ongoing actions in Ukraine and its broader regional posture.