Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov issued a stern warning at the UN General Assembly in New York on Saturday, insisting Moscow has no intention of attacking NATO or European Union states but stressing that any act of aggression would trigger a “decisive response.”

“Threats of force against Russia, accused of practically planning an attack on the North Atlantic Alliance [NATO] and the European Union, are becoming increasingly common,” Lavrov said. He added that President Vladimir Putin has “repeatedly debunked such provocations.” The remarks come amid heightened tensions, with Denmark alleging drone incursions over its airports and Estonia accusing Russia of airspace violations. NATO has pledged to use “all necessary tools” to counter recent provocations.

Criticism of Israel and Western Policy in Middle East

Lavrov expanded his criticism to the Middle East, condemning Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. While acknowledging the 7 October Hamas attacks, which killed about 1,200 people, he said there was “no justification” for Israel’s “brutal killings” of Palestinians. Figures from Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry claim more than 65,900 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began.

He also accused Israel of using its war with Hamas as a pretext to justify strikes in other parts of the region, warning that such actions risk “blowing up” the Middle East. Lavrov further dismissed recent recognitions of a Palestinian state by Western nations such as the UK and France as “delayed” and politically calculated.

Iran Sanctions and US-Russia Relations

Turning to Iran, Lavrov denounced the reimposition of sanctions as “illegal” after a last-minute effort by Russia and China to delay them failed. He accused Western powers of sabotaging diplomacy.

Despite his combative tone, Lavrov said Moscow remains open to dialogue with Washington. “In the approaches of the current US administration, we see a desire… to develop pragmatic cooperation without adopting an ideological stance,” he said, hinting at limited areas of cooperation.

Lavrov’s UNGA intervention was received with sharp reactions from Western diplomats, who accused Moscow of deflection and disinformation. Yet the speech reinforced Russia’s posture of defiance as the Ukraine war and NATO tensions continue to escalate.