United Nations, New York – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told world leaders on Saturday that any aggression against Moscow would be met with a “decisive response,” sharpening rhetoric as tensions rise along NATO’s eastern flank.
Speaking before the UN General Assembly, Lavrov warned against attempts to down Russian aircraft in its airspace and accused Germany of “militaristic rhetoric.” He said NATO and EU leaders were misleading their voters by portraying war with Russia as inevitable.
“Any aggression against my country will be met with a decisive response. There should be no doubt about this,” Lavrov declared, dismissing recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested Russian jets violating NATO airspace could be shot down.
The comments come amid heightened anxiety in Eastern Europe after Estonia accused Moscow of sending fighter jets into its skies and Polish forces shot down Russian drones. Lavrov insisted Russia had never targeted NATO or EU countries with drones or missiles and had no plans to do so.
At a press conference following his speech, Lavrov cautioned: “If there are attempts to down any flying object in our airspace, people will regret such an egregious violation of sovereignty.”
He also rejected the idea that Ukraine could return to its pre-2022 borders, calling such expectations “politically blind.” Lavrov singled out German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for “militaristic rhetoric,” warning against talk of World War Three as a likely scenario.
Despite his sharp tone toward Europe, Lavrov said Moscow still seeks “frank dialogue” with Washington under Trump. He confirmed that Russia and the U.S. will hold a third round of talks in the coming months to improve strained embassy operations. He also met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the UN gathering.
Lavrov further voiced alarm over a U.S. naval buildup near Venezuela, describing military activity in international waters as “very serious.” He cautioned that a draft U.N. Security Council resolution on combating gangs in Haiti could be misused by “creative actors” to justify intervention in Venezuela.
The Russia Decisive Response warning underscores Moscow’s increasingly confrontational tone, even as it signals conditional openness to dialogue with Washington. For NATO members, it highlights the risks of escalation as airspace incursions and rhetoric intensify across Europe.
