Lavrov dismisses EU fears of Russian 'conquest' as detached from reality
Quick Look
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that EU countries' fears of Russia 'conquering' them are detached from reality, claiming the West constantly needs an enemy and that without the artificial image of Russia as a threat, most EU and NATO governments would be voted out of office.
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Why It Matters
The remarks were made during the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, where Lavrov addressed perceptions of Russia in the West amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
VLADIVOSTOK, September 3. /TASS/. EU countries’ fears that Russia will "conquer" them are detached from reality, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said during a lecture organized by the Znanie (Knowledge) Society on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF).
"They [EU countries] are physically constructing walls along the EU border with the Russian federation," Lavrov said. "This is a diseased imagination."
In his words, the West "needs an enemy all the time."
"Members of both NATO members and the European Union are in a constant need of an enemy. If this artificially created image of Russia as an enemy disappears, the vast majority of governments in the European Union and NATO countries will simply be swept out of office by voters," the minister said.
Open Questions
- What specific border walls is Lavrov referring to?
- Does Russia have any plans to de-escalate tensions with the EU or NATO?
- How do EU and NATO officials respond to claims that the threat narrative is artificially maintained?
