Russia Asserts No Plans to Attack NATO, Cites Break in Relations by the West
According to Lavrov, President Putin has made it known to all, including President Biden, that Russia is free of any territorial ambitions concerning NATO countries.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks at the Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian parliament, in Moscow, Russia on December 13, 2023. Photo by Anadolu Images.
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n a recent development that has caught the attention of international onlookers, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made clear on December 18, 2023, that Russia harbors no intentions of launching an offensive against NATO member states. This declaration comes as a reinforcement to President Vladimir Putin’s dismissal of such allegations as “complete nonsense” during an earlier broadcast.
The statements from the Russian officials were in direct response to comments made by U.S. President Joe Biden earlier in the month. According to Lavrov, President Putin has made it known to all, including President Biden, that Russia is free of any territorial ambitions concerning NATO countries and has resolved its historical territorial disputes, pointing out that this includes Japan.
Lavrov’s remarks, aired on the Channel One TV channel, emphasized that it was not Moscow but the West that severed ties, with no efforts from the Russian side to instigate such a break. “We never sought to break off these relationships,” Lavrov stated, suggesting that the current strained relations speak volumes about a “very desperate situation” from Washington’s perspective.
“President Putin has termed the idea of Russia attacking NATO countries as nonsense. Our country is not engaged in territorial disputes with NATO members, and this extends globally, without exception,” Lavrov communicated. This statement was a direct response to the remarks made by US President Joe Biden earlier in the month, which had insinuated a different narrative.
Moreover, Lavrov expressed that the deterioration of relations was not initiated by Moscow. “The severing of diplomatic ties came from the West. Russia has always been open to maintaining a relationship, and we have not pursued any disengagement,” he asserted.
Highlighting the strain in international relations, Lavrov pointed to the actions of the West as creating an adversarial climate. “They’ve pushed us into a corner, branding us as foes.”
“Erroneous policy”
During a segment with Rossiya-1 TV channel, President Putin not only labeled the allegations of potential aggression towards NATO as groundless but also accused President Biden of leveraging these claims to rationalize what he termed an “erroneous policy” towards Russia.
The back-and-forth comments underscore a period of heightened tensions and a complex geopolitical chess game, with both sides aiming to manage international perceptions amidst ongoing global concerns.
The unfolding narrative continues to evolve as world leaders weigh in and diplomatic channels work overtime to navigate the intricacies of these international relations. Observers are keeping a close watch on the situation, hoping for de-escalation and a return to more stable diplomatic engagements.
Sources: Yeni Safak and Anadolu Agency
