Rising tensions among Europe, NATO, and Russia have prompted a stark warning from an ally of Vladimir Putin.
Sergey Lavrov, a prominent figure in Russian politics, has been vocal about his perceptions of recent developments, viewing them as an escalating threat to Russia.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, one of the country’s most influential politicians, has issued a public warning that any ‘aggression’ towards Moscow will be met with a ‘decisive response.’
These remarks were made during his speech at the 80th UN General Assembly in New York, where he pointed out that threats from Western nations against Russia were becoming ‘increasingly common.’
Lavrov was expected to address Russia’s alleged incursions into neighboring countries in recent weeks, actions that have prompted criticism from politicians who believe Russia is acting with increased boldness.
Russia has already issued a concerning threat against NATO allies if any of its aircraft are downed by the alliance. However, NATO has accused Russia of breaching the airspace of Estonia and Poland.
Reports indicate that three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets intruded into Estonia’s airspace for 12 minutes, leading Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna to describe it as ‘unprecedentedly brazen.’
He stated: “Russia has violated Estonian airspace four times already this year, which is unacceptable in itself, but today’s violation, during which three fighter jets entered our airspace, is unprecedentedly brazen.
“Russia’s ever-increasing testing of borders and aggressiveness must be responded to by rapidly strengthening political and economic pressure.”
Russia has denied these accusations, insisting its jets were in Baltic waters and not in Estonia’s airspace. Yet, similar incidents were reported by Romania and Latvia, involving Russian drones violating their airspace this month as well.
Lavrov emphasized that Russia is no longer tolerating threats from NATO.
Despite suggestions from Putin ally Vladimir Solovyov last week about deploying nuclear bombs on Oxford and Cambridge in the UK to demonstrate that the nation could win a nuclear conflict, Lavrov stated that Russia has no intention of starting a war.
“Threats of force against Russia, accused of practically planning an attack on the North Atlantic Alliance and the European Union, are becoming increasingly common,” Lavrov said in New York.
“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.”
This statement follows President Donald Trump’s advice to the UN that NATO nations should shoot down any Russian aircraft seen in their airspace.
During a subsequent news conference, Lavrov was asked by US correspondent Mark Stone about the Kremlin’s potential response if a nation did shoot down a plane or drone. He cautioned: “Try to understand that a drone, when it is flying not over our territory, but if it crosses someone’s border but has left our airspace, probably everyone has the right to do with that drone whatever they consider necessary to ensure their security.
“But if there are attempts to shoot down any flying object, or indeed any object at all, on our territory, in our airspace, then I think people will seriously regret it, undertaking such a gross violation of our territorial integrity, our sovereignty.”
Lavrov also commented at the G20 meeting on September 25, warning that if the UN charter is not enforced, NATO should brace for retaliatory ‘regional conflicts’ and ‘global instability.’
He stated: “[They] have already declared a real war on my country.”
The charter emphasizes that UN members should strive to end ‘the scourge of war.’
He further remarked: “A clear example is the crisis in Ukraine, provoked by the collective West, through whose hands NATO and the EU want to declare, have already declared, a real war on my country and are directly participating in it.”