Lavrov says it is Europe, not Russia, that is preparing for war

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told his closing news conference in New York that Europe is the one preparing for war, while Russia has no intention of attacking anyone.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on September 26 that it is Europe that is preparing for war, speaking at a news conference in New York at the end of the high-level week of the 81st UN General Assembly. “It is Europe that is preparing for war with us. They confirm every day that Europeans must be ready for war by 2030 at the latest,” he said.

Lavrov stressed that Russia does not intend to attack. “If they attack us, and we are not going to attack, then, as the president said, we will not hold back,” he said, also recalling Vladimir Putin’s remark that it would be “a completely different war, and it will be short.”

Asked about Europe’s preparations for a conflict with Russia, Lavrov said: “Frankly, it is already boring to talk about this. We have stated our position many times, so I have nothing to add.” On September 16, he had already warned that a war would be very short if Europe attacked Russia.