Interfax: Russia trying to avoid confrontation with West – Lavrov

Sergei Lavrov file photo

MOSCOW. June 15 (Interfax) – Moscow is seeking to avoid confrontation with the United States, NATO, and the European Union, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

“We are not going to be drawn into confrontation with the U.S., NATO, or the European Union, which is being imposed on us. It’s obvious that confrontational attitudes and geopolitical zero-sum games hinder efforts toward ensuring sustainable global development and generate crises similar to the Ukrainian one,” Lavrov said at Government Hour at the State Duma on Wednesday.

“We are always open to the development of equitable and mutually beneficial cooperation with all countries and their associations if they display the same reciprocal interest,” Lavrov said.

“At the same time, no one should doubt that we will ensure the security of our country and our citizens in any conditions,” Lavrov said.

“We see continuing attempts to put pressure on us, unleash an anti-Russian campaign, and force us to abandon our principled moral approaches toward world order problems,” he said.

“There is also an obvious desire to patch trans-Atlantic discipline at our expense and simultaneously undermine Russia’s positions as a competitor on the energy and weapons markets,” Lavrov said.

[featured image is file photo]

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