In Moscow on Monday, November 9, 2026, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov proclaimed that "Russia has no intention, plans or reason to attack European countries" during a roundtable titled Militarization of Europe: What Next?, held under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Co‑Operation in Europe (OSCE). The statement was released on the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website and reported by Xinhua.
Ryabkov warned that Russia would only respond if it were provoked, adding that the country “has no plans to attack any country in the near, medium or long term.” He accused Western governments of treating the possibility of European conflict as if it were “almost predetermined and inevitable,” and said that some European leaders had failed to pursue genuine solutions to the Russia‑Ukraine war.
Speaking at the same event, Yulia Zhdanova, head of the Russian delegation to the Vienna Negotiations, said that European populations were offered a future that hinged on the inevitability of conflict. She described NATO’s "escalation management" concept as harmful, claiming it encourages reckless action while doing nothing to reduce military risks. The remarks were quoted by Xinhua.
Both officials emphasized that long‑term European stability could only be achieved by recognising Russia’s interests and engaging in dialogue on the basis of equality, indivisible security, pragmatism and mutual consideration. The OSCE‑backed forum attracted representatives from several European states and sparked debate on the region’s security dynamics.
