Lavrov Says War Warnings Could Become EU’s ‘Self-Fulfilling Prophecy’

Key Points:

• Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed European warnings of a Russian attack as "nonsense," while warning that Europe's military build-up could become a "self-fulfilling prophecy" leading to conflict.
• Lavrov and President Vladimir Putin denied any plans to attack Europe, accusing European nations of preparing for war and violating the rights of Russian speakers in the Baltic states without providing evidence.
• Russia's rhetoric about protecting Russian-speaking populations has historically been used to justify hostile actions, as seen in Ukraine, and recent threats, such as those from Dmitry Medvedev against Lithuania, have escalated tensions.
• Europe has increased its defense readiness in response to intensified Russian hybrid attacks, including drone strikes and cyberattacks, with some EU countries describing these as direct attacks; the US has also increased troop rotations in the region.
• Despite diplomatic efforts, including calls for trilateral talks and a ceasefire, Russia and Ukraine remain at an impasse, with Moscow blaming Kyiv for stalled negotiations and Kyiv demanding direct talks with Russian officials.