Russian Foreign Ministry: Moscow does not seek war with Europe and is ready to respond to any moves targeting it

Moscow -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov affirmed on Tuesday that his country does not seek to enter into a war with Europe but is prepared to respond to any moves targeting it, warning that any European decision to wage war on Russia would be met with a swift response. The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Lavrov, during a speech at the Fourth International Eurasian Security Conference held in the Belarusian capital of Minsk, stressed the need to establish a new Eurasian security system based on multipolarity and mutual respect for interests. Lavrov said the international arena is witnessing a sharp struggle over the right to determine the principles upon which the global order will be built, noting a desire among the global majority to formulate a new model for the international system, which he said is not accepted by many parties. He added that Russia supports the establishment of a more just system of international relations based on the principles of multipolarity, considering that the Euro-Atlantic security concept has failed and that Western countries have demonstrated their unwillingness to cooperate on a fair basis. The statement quoted Lavrov as saying that the European Union is seeking to establish a European security system directed against Russia and Belarus, adding that the war, which he described as one waged by the West against Russia through Ukraine, has destroyed the concept of Euro-Atlantic security as a framework for uniting everyone. He considered that the European Union is rapidly transforming into a military alliance with aggressive, anti-Russia and anti-Belarus orientations, pointing out that Moscow’s proposal of its vision for a new security system does not mean a desire to engage in a new arms race. On the Ukrainian issue, Lavrov said that calls for various types of ceasefires in the zone of the special military operation are, in his view, aimed only at giving Kyiv a chance to catch its breath and regroup, emphasizing that Moscow does not seek a temporary halt to fire but rather a reliable resolution of the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis. In this context, Lavrov noted that Western countries are seeking to expand their influence in the Arctic region, pointing out that the European Union is adopting a confrontational military strategy in the area. He also considered that the conflict in the Gulf region has shown that the military presence of external parties does not constitute a guarantee of security but may instead lead to increased risks and threats, stressing the importance of seeking security arrangements based on respect for the interests of the countries of the region. The convening of the Fourth International Eurasian Security Conference in Minsk, on November 3 and 4, comes amid escalating geopolitical tensions and divergent international views on the future of the global security system. (End) D.A.N./S.M.A.