Russia has no intention of going to war with European countries but is prepared to respond if they initiate a military confrontation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said. He reiterated that President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly made clear that Moscow neither wants nor plans a war with Europe.

Speaking at the Fourth Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security, Lavrov warned that if European countries follow through on their preparations for war and launch an attack on Russia, Moscow would be ready to respond. He stressed that such a conflict would be fundamentally different and extremely short.

The foreign minister also ruled out any immediate prospects for constructive dialogue with the European Union. While Russia remains open to cooperation with countries willing to abandon confrontation, Lavrov emphasized that Moscow would not pursue negotiations at the expense of its own interests.

Lavrov criticized proposals emerging from Brussels for a new European security architecture, arguing that they are effectively directed against Russia, Belarus and countries unwilling to follow NATO or EU policies. He also accused Western governments of seeking to expand their military presence in the Arctic, describing the European Union’s approach to the region as confrontational.

Turning to the Ukraine conflict, Lavrov said European governments are pushing for a halt to hostilities along the current line of contact, followed by the deployment of so-called stabilization forces. Moscow considers this approach insufficient to achieve a settlement.