Sergey Lavrov Says Russia Monitoring NATO Attack Preparations

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced Tuesday that Russia is closely monitoring NATO statements concerning preparations for a potential attack on Moscow. Speaking at a news conference following talks with Timor-Leste Foreign Minister Bendito Freitas, Lavrov stated that Russia remains vigilant and focused on fulfilling President Vladimir Putin's objectives for the war in Ukraine.

Lavrov specifically highlighted tensions over the Kaliningrad region. He noted that while NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew Whitaker assured Russia that the alliance is defensive and has no plans to attack, Moscow continues to keep its guard up.

During the same diplomatic session, Lavrov discussed expanding bilateral cooperation with Timor-Leste in the sectors of energy, mining, and tourism. He also expressed regret that Moscow Format consultations on Afghanistan failed to produce a final document, attributing the failure to ongoing tensions between Kabul and Pakistan.