In brief
In Moscow on Nov 9, 2026, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov announced that Russia has no intent to attack European states and would respond solely to aggression. He criticized Western discussions of a looming European conflict and said NATO’s “escalation management” is harmful. The statement came amid an OSCE‑hosted roundtable on Europe’s militarization, where Russia called for dialogue that respects its interests.
At a Moscow roundtable on Nov. 9, the Deputy Foreign Minister for Russia, Sergei Ryabkov, said Moscow has no plans or desire to attack Europe, only to respond if provoked. Xinhua reported that Ryabkov criticised Western discussions, saying that the idea of a conflict in Europe was “almost predetermined and inevitable.” He added that Russia would act only after being forced to respond to an aggression.
Ryabkov also said some European governments had not truly sought a peaceful end to the Russia‑Ukraine war, insisting that Europe could have reached a settlement that protected the interests of all parties. He argued that long‑term stability can only be achieved if Russia and its allies are part of the conversation.
In the same meeting, Yulia Zhdanova, head of the Russian delegation to the Vienna Negotiations on Military Security and Arms Control, said European leaders offered no clear vision of a future except the belief that conflict with Russia was inevitable. She warned that NATO’s concept of “escalation management” is harmful, claiming it encourages reckless actions and fails to reduce military risk.
The event, organized under the OSCE, focused on the “Militarization of Europe: What Next?” theme.
Russia’s statements highlight its stance that any conflict with Europe would be a response to provocation, while it insists it has no intention of initiating war.
He also called for a balanced dialogue that takes into account mutual security concerns and emphasized that Russia would engage if other nations avoided provocations.
He asserted that any European move to destabilize Russia would prompt a suitable response, reinforcing Russia’s position that it would only act in defense.
The Deputy FM’s remarks were released through the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website, giving the statements official backing.
