Top Russian diplomat brings firm message to U.N.

Foreign minister says aggression against his country would lead to a 'decisive response.'

- BY JENNIFER PELTZ AND EDITH M. LEDERER

RUSSIAN Minister for Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov speaks at the U.N. General Assembly.

(PAMELA SMITH Associated Press)

As new tensions rise between Russia and NATO nations, Moscow's top diplomat told world leaders Saturday that his nation doesn't intend to attack Europe but would mount a "decisive response" to any aggression.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke at the United Nations General Assembly after weeks in which unauthorized flights into NATO's airspace — intrusions the alliance blames on Russia — have raised alarm around Europe. NATO jets downed a flurry of drones over Poland, and Estonia said Russian fighter jets flew into its territory and lingered for 12 minutes.

Russia has denied that its planes entered Estonian airspace and has said the drones didn't target Poland, with Moscow's ally Belarus maintaining that Ukrainian signal-jamming sent the devices off course.

But European leaders see the incidents as intentional, provocative moves meant to rattle the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and gauge how the alliance will respond. NATO warned Russia last week that it would use all means to defend against any further breaches of its airspace.

At the U.N., Lavrov maintained it's Russia that is facing threats.

"Russia has never had and does not have any such intentions" of attacking European or NATO countries, he said. Ukraine, which Russia invaded in 2022, is in Europe.