Russian envoy rejects claims of planned attack on NATO

Russia’s ambassador to Denmark, Vladimir Barbin, said claims that Russia could soon decide to attack NATO member states are “false,” rejecting recent media reports about a military build-up near the alliance’s eastern flank.

Speaking to TASS, Barbin commented on reporting by Danmarks Radio, which cited an increase in Russia’s military capabilities along NATO’s eastern border in the Baltic region.

“The claim that Russia could in the near future decide to attack one or more NATO countries is false. Fabrications on this topic are intended to mislead and intimidate Europeans in order to justify the active preparations for war with Russia underway in NATO and EU countries. Such intentions are evidenced by the aggressive Russophobic rhetoric of European leaders and the development, to its accompaniment, of operational plans for military action against Russia,” he said.

Barbin added, “It is not Russia that threatens NATO countries, but the other way around. Russia does not harbour plans to attack either NATO countries or EU countries. It is the West that keeps talking about the need to inflict a military and strategic defeat on Russia in the conflict in Ukraine. It is not Russia that is preparing for a conflict with the West, but NATO and EU countries that are preparing for a conflict with Russia. Russian weapons are not killing Europeans; rather, weapons supplied by NATO countries are killing Russians, including civilians.”

On Tuesday, several state broadcasters — SVT in Sweden, NRK in Norway, and Danmarks Radio in Denmark — reported that Russia was increasing its military potential along NATO’s eastern border in the Baltic region.

By Tamilla Hasanova