Lavrov Addresses Federation Council
On Wednesday, December 10, 2025, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov issued a stern warning regarding potential actions by European nations concerning Ukraine and Russian assets. Speaking before the Federation Council, Russia's upper house of parliament, Lavrov stated that Moscow would respond to any deployment of European military forces in Ukraine and any attempts to seize Russian assets in Europe.
Lavrov underscored that while Russia has 'no intention of going to war with Europe,' it is 'already prepared for this response' to what he termed 'hostile steps.'
Warnings Against Troop Deployment
The Russian Foreign Minister explicitly warned against the stationing of European military contingents in Ukraine. He indicated that such a move would be met with a decisive reaction from Russia. This statement comes amidst ongoing tensions and discussions surrounding international support for Ukraine.
Response to Asset Seizure Attempts
In addition to military deployment, Lavrov addressed the issue of frozen Russian assets in Europe. He reiterated Russia's readiness to retaliate against any expropriation or confiscation of these assets. Discussions among European nations and the G7 countries have intensified recently regarding the potential use of these assets to support Ukraine.
Previous statements from Russian officials, including Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova on December 4, have also warned of a 'harshest reaction' to any 'illegal action' concerning Russia's frozen assets. Lavrov himself has previously characterized the blocking of Russian assets as 'robbery.'
Geopolitical Context and International Relations
Lavrov's remarks also touched upon the broader geopolitical landscape. He praised former U.S. President Donald Trump for his 'understanding of the reasons that made the war in Ukraine inevitable' and his commitment to diplomatic dialogue. Conversely, Lavrov criticized European nations, including Britain and EU states, for maintaining an 'openly destructive position' on peace plans.
The foreign minister accused Europe of 'artificially holding back' peace negotiations and suggested that the West is 'not united' on a settlement for Ukraine. The ongoing debate within Europe, particularly with countries like Belgium reportedly blocking initiatives due to legal risks associated with asset seizure, highlights the complexities of the situation.
7 Comments
Raphael
Russia's warnings about troop deployment are serious and shouldn't be dismissed lightly. However, Ukraine desperately needs support, and Europe is trying to find ways to provide it without direct confrontation.
Donatello
Trump actually understood the situation. The EU is completely clueless and provoking war.
Raphael
Freezing assets was theft. What did they expect? Retaliation is justified.
Donatello
Empty threats from Moscow. Europe needs to stand firm and not back down.
Raphael
Finally, someone calls out the West's hypocrisy on peace talks. They don't want peace.
Eugene Alta
Russia is the aggressor here. These are just more intimidation tactics to scare Europe.
Katchuka
They started this war, now they complain about consequences? Unbelievable double standards.