TASS news agency reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has warned that if European countries attack Russia, the war would be very short and Europe would be defeated.
Lavrov said Russia has no intention of attacking European countries, but warned that Moscow would respond forcefully if Russia came under attack. He added that developments related to the war in Ukraine are currently taking place on the battlefield rather than through negotiations.
The Russian foreign minister also claimed that Western countries blocked an agreement during the 2022 Istanbul talks, preventing an opportunity to end the war in Ukraine.
Lavrov also described a proposal to revive the former Black Sea grain export agreement as “unacceptable” to Russia.