Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the West on Saturday that any aggression against Moscow would face a “decisive response,” warning against attempts to down aircraft in Russian airspace and accusing Germany of militaristic rhetoric.
Estonia has accused Russia of sending three fighter jets into its airspace in recent weeks. In a separate incident, NATO jets reportedly shot down Russian drones that entered Polish airspace. These actions have contributed to fears of further escalation between Russia and alliance members. Lavrov rejected claims of Russian plans to attack NATO or EU countries, saying, “Russia is being accused of almost planning to attack the North Atlantic Alliance and European Union countries. President Putin has repeatedly debunked these provocations.”
US LEADERS EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR NATO DEFENSE
United States President Donald Trump said this week that he endorsed the idea of shooting down Russian jets that violate NATO airspace, part of a rhetorical shift that saw him mock Russia’s military performance in Ukraine and call it a paper tiger. In addition, the United States also told the U.N. Security Council it would “defend every inch of NATO territory.” These statements signal a firm commitment from Washington to support NATO members bordering Russia.
RUSSIAN ALARM OVER TALK OF BROADER CONFLICT
Lavrov, who has served as Russia’s foreign minister for more than two decades, voiced concern over statements from some politicians in EU and NATO capitals suggesting a looming World War III as a “likely scenario.” He criticised the impact of such rhetoric, saying, “These figures are undermining any efforts to find a fair balance of interests amongst all the members of the international community by trying to impose their unilateral approaches on everyone else.” The Russian foreign minister emphasised that such positions hinder diplomatic solutions.
HIGH-LEVEL MEETINGS ON AMID MOUNTING TENSIONS
Amid these developments, Lavrov met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday during the United Nations General Assembly. The discussions took place against a backdrop of heightened military and diplomatic tensions, with both Russian and NATO officials exchanging strong public statements at the annual gathering of world leaders.
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