Journalism of Courage
Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has told the United Nations on Saturday that Moscow has no intention of attacking Europe or NATO countries but will mount a “decisive response” towards any “aggression” that is directed towards Moscow, AP reported.
During his wide-ranging speech at the UN General Assembly on Saturday, Lavrov said that threats against Russia on behalf of Western nations have become “increasingly common”. He took a considerable measured tone toward the United States in the backdrop of a summit held last month between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump in Alaska.
Though there wasn’t any deal signed between Trump and Putin during their summit in Alaska, Lavrov said the Kremlin had “some hopes” to keep the channel of talks on with the White House, while suggesting that Moscow sees President Trump’s administration as a practical-minded counterpart.
Lavrov also targeted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu led Israel, saying that Moscow condemns the attack by militant group Hamas launched on Israel that started the war in the Middle East, but there was “no justification” for the “brutal killings” by Israeli forces of Palestinians in Gaza or the Israeli plan to annex the West Bank.
“Russia has never had and does not have any such intentions of attacking European or NATO countries,” Lavrov said, adding “However, any aggression against my country will be met with a decisive response. There should be no doubt about this among those in NATO and the EU.”
Lavrov was speaking at the UN General Assembly weeks after several unauthorised flights and drones breached NATO airspaces in Poland, Romania, Estonia among others which these countries have blamed on Russia and raised security concerns across Europe. NATO jets destroyed the drones that were hovering over Poland.
After drones were spotted over airports in Denmark, the country accused Russia of orchestrating the incident but Moscow has denied the responsibility.
(with inputs from Associated Press)
