Moscow Offers Written Non-Aggression Pact as Lavrov Rejects Claims of War Plans

Russia has no intention of attacking Europe and is prepared to formalize this position in a legally binding framework of collective guarantees, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said during a diplomatic roundtable dedicated to the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine.

Photo: commons.wikimedia.org by Sergey Korovkin 84, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Foreign Affairs Ministry, Russia

Lavrov Reaffirms Moscow's Non-Aggression Stance

Lavrov said that Russia harbors "no aggressive plans” against members of NATO or the European Union and is ready to record such assurances in a formal, legally binding document on a mutual collective basis.

"We are not nurturing any aggressive plans against either NATO members or EU members. We are ready to put the corresponding guarantees in writing in a legal document on a collective and reciprocal foundation,”

he said.

According to him, Moscow stands by its word, while "the other side is openly consumed by militaristic hysteria.”

Putin and Witkoff 'Eliminated Misunderstandings' After Alaska Summit Pause

Lavrov added that President Vladimir Putin and Stephen Witkoff, the special envoy of US President Donald Trump, resolved all misunderstandings between Moscow and Washington during their meeting in the Kremlin on December 2. He noted that the pause following the Alaska summit had caused friction, but that issues were now resolved.

"In our discussions with the Americans on the Ukrainian issue, I personally believe the misunderstandings were eliminated,”

Lavrov emphasized.

Russia Says It Has No Intention of War

The day before, the Russian foreign minister stressed again that Russia does not intend to go to war with Europe. "We have no such thoughts,” he said, while adding that Moscow remains prepared for potential unfriendly actions coming from Europe.

Earlier in December, President Putin also stated that Russia does not plan to wage war against Europe, but that if Europe were to attack, Moscow is ready to respond "right now.” He warned that in such a scenario, the situation could "quickly reach a point where we have no one left to negotiate with.”

At the same time, he argued that Europe is obstructing efforts by the administration of President Donald Trump to peacefully resolve the conflict in Ukraine.

Europe's Military Build-Up and Fears of Russia

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán previously claimed that European leaders are preparing for war with Russia in the coming years. Speaking about fears of a Russian attack on the EU and NATO, Orbán said these blocs are far more powerful than Russia economically and militarily, calling such fears "absurd.”

European states began large-scale rearmament after the start of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. In November, WSJ wrote that a group of senior German officers had prepared a secret war plan for a potential conflict with Russia. Germany also intends to double its annual defense budget to €162 billion by 2029.

In October, General Fabien Mandon, Chief of the General Staff of the French Armed Forces, urged French troops to prepare for a possible confrontation with Russia. He estimated that a conflict could begin within the next "three to four years.”

European Defense Strategy and Moscow's Response

In March, the European Commission unveiled an €800 billion EU rearmament plan under the label "ReArm Europe.” At the same time, the EU published its White Paper on European Defense — "Readiness 2030.” One of the stated reasons for increasing defense purchases was the "fundamental threat” posed by Russia.

President Putin, for his part, has dismissed claims that Russia plans to attack NATO or EU countries as "incredible lies.”