Russia Not Going to Attack Europe, But Will Retaliate If Attacked, Says Lavrov

The war between Russia and Ukraine is heading into its fourth year, and negotiations to end the conflict are being brokered by Washington.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov delivers a speech during a meeting of the leadership of the Russia-Islamic World Strategic Vision Group with ambassadors of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation member states in Moscow on April 21, 2025. Maxim Shipenkov/Pool/Reuters

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Feb. 8 that Moscow is not interested in launching a military assault on Europe, but will retaliate if European forces attack the Russian Federation.

“We have no intention of attacking Europe; we have absolutely no need for that,” Lavrov said in an interview aired on the NTV television channel.

“And if Europe were to carry out its threats to prepare for war against us and launch an attack on the Russian Federation, the president said that this would not be a special military operation on our part, but a full-scale military response using all available military means, in accordance with the relevant doctrinal documents,” he said, according to comments reported by Russian state-owned news agency TASS.

Western allies have said that the Russian Federation intends to attack Europe or challenge NATO. Those among the defense union’s allies with such concerns include Britain’s military chief Sir Richard Knighton, who in December said, “The Russian leadership has made clear that it wishes to challenge, limit, divide, and ultimately destroy NATO.”

The Russian government has consistently denied that it has any intentions of initiating conflict, particularly with Europe or NATO.

Earlier this month, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who serves as the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, said his country is “not interested in a global conflict.”

On Dec. 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed claims that Moscow was planning to attack European countries, telling the BBC the notion was “nonsense.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also said on Dec. 9 that it is “not true” that Putin wants to restore the Soviet Union and called claims from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz that the Russian president wants to attack NATO ”complete stupidity.”

Peace Negotiations Ongoing

The war between Russia and Ukraine is heading into its fourth year, and negotiations to end the conflict are being brokered by Washington.

On Feb. 6, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the United States had given both Moscow and Kyiv until June to agree on terms to end the war.

Zelenskyy’s comments came after the latest round of trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi, which involved representatives from the United States, Ukraine, and Russia. All sides described the discussions as constructive, and a Russia–Ukraine prisoner swap was announced, although no cease-fire or political agreement was reached.

President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that “we had very, very good talks today, having to do with Russia, Ukraine,” adding that “something could be happening.”

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said the talks on Feb. 4–5 focused on creating conditions for a lasting peace and included discussions on cease-fire implementation and monitoring mechanisms.

Russian Direct Investment Fund chief Kirill Dmitriev, a Russian presidential representative who was present at the talks, reported that there was “good, positive movement forward” in the negotiations.

‘Only Trump Can Stop the War’

Recently, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that Zelenskyy and Putin will need to meet in person to finalize the most difficult and sensitive remaining issues, and that only Trump has the power to bring about a peace deal.

There are particular sticking points that neither side is yet willing to concede, specifically regarding land.

Moscow has demanded that Kyiv cede the remaining 20 percent of the eastern region of the Donetsk oblast that Russia has so far failed to occupy, a demand Kyiv rejects. Kyiv wants control over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is in Russian-occupied territory.

“Only Trump can stop the war,” Sybiha told Reuters in an interview published on Feb. 8.

“My assessment is we have momentum, that’s true. ... We need consolidation or mobilization of these peace efforts, and we’re ready to speed up,” he said.

Guy Birchall and Reuters contributed to this report.