Lavrov Criticizes Europe's Use of 'Russian Threat' to Justify Arms Race

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accuses the West of using the 'myth' of a Russian threat to escalate an arms race. He criticized Europe's increased military readiness and NATO's wartime footing. Lavrov reiterated Russia's openness to dialogue with the West and suggested global security should start from Eurasia.

MOSCOW — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused Western nations of exploiting the 'myth' of a Russian threat to escalate an arms race and form a European military alliance with a nuclear component.

At a meeting in Moscow, Lavrov criticized Europe's increased military readiness and NATO's shift to a wartime footing as deliberate escalations.

He noted that French President Emmanuel Macron recently identified Russia as a primary threat, placing France and Germany at the forefront of an anti-Russian stance.

Despite these tensions, Lavrov reiterated Russia's willingness to engage in dialogue with the West on security and strategic stability, emphasizing the importance of mutual respect in negotiations.

Regarding Ukraine, Lavrov dismissed the potential effectiveness of an upcoming summit in Switzerland and criticized Western arms supplies to Ukraine as a sign of disinterest in peaceful resolution.

He suggested that global security arrangements should start from Eurasia based on mutual security principles, a topic discussed with Chinese President Xi Jinping during President Vladimir Putin's recent visit to China.