Russian minister Lavrov to UN: No intention of attacking Europe

UNITED NATIONS: Russia's top diplomat insisted to world leaders Saturday that his nation has no intention of attacking Europe, but any aggression against his country "will be met with a decisive response."

Foreign minister Sergey Lavrov spoke at the UN General Assembly at a time when unauthorised flights into Nato's airspace - intrusions blamed on Russia - have raised alarm around Europe in recent weeks, particularly after Nato jets downed drones over Poland and Estonia.

Russia has denied that its planes entered Estonia and has said the drones didn't target Poland, with Moscow's ally Belarus maintaining that Ukrainian signal-jamming sent the devices off course. But EU sees the incidents as intentional, provocative moves meant to rattle Nato and to gauge how the alliance will respond.

Lavrov maintained that it's Russia that's facing threats. "Russia has never had and does not have any such intentions" of attacking European or Nato countries, he said.

The minister said Moscow is open to negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, stressing that Russia's security concerns and rights of Russian-speaking people must be addressed before any settlement.

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