Lavrov Proposes New Security Guarantees for Europe: Moscow Offers Assurances for NATO and the EU
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made an unexpected statement during the International Eurasian Security Conference in Minsk, suggesting a new framework of security guarantees from Moscow to the European Union and NATO organizations.
He emphasized that Russia intends to offer specific legal commitments to ensure stability and security throughout the Eurasian region, reaffirming that Moscow has no intentions of attacking any current NATO or EU member states.
According to Lavrov, Russia is ready to formalize these guarantees through future treaties and agreements aimed at strengthening collective security in the region.
At the same time, he pointed out that EU and NATO leaders are currently avoiding real, collective discussions of these guarantees, preferring models of security that effectively oppose Russia.
The minister noted that this approach indicates attempts to establish security “against” Russia rather than “with” it.
Despite this, Lavrov asserted that Russia has never violated the security guarantees provided under the Budapest Memorandum, claiming that its actions concerning Ukraine do not breach these commitments.
He also outright rejected U.S.
proposals to cease hostilities along the current demarcation line, emphasizing that the situation requires further political settlement.