WW3 fears explode as Russia accuses NATO of ‘seriously preparing for wa | World | News

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has extraordinarily accused NATO of preparing for war against Russia. His unfounded claim came during a press conference in which he summarised his country’s diplomatic activities in 2025. 

He said: “If you read the statements of European politicians and leaders—Kaja Kallas, Ursula von der Leyen, Merz, Starmer, Macron, Rutte—they are seriously preparing for war against the Russian Federation, and, in fact, they are not hiding it.” Mr Lavrov, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, also went on to defend the unlawful invasion of Ukraine.

He told reporters the attack on the neighbouring nation was, according to Russia‘s position, “the need to address the root causes of this crisis”.

The unprovoked invasion was launched under the order of Putin in February 2022. 

Nations across Europe have been boosting their armies since the invasion, but only as a result of the increasing threats coming from Russia. 

Military experts are warning Moscow may be ready to hit another European nation in just five years. 

Late last year, NATO chief Mark Rutte warned “Russia is already escalating its covert campaign against our societies”. 

He added, during a speech in Germany: “We must be prepared for the scale of war our grandparents or great-grandparents endured.” 

Also in December, Air Chief Marshal Richard Knighton told the RUSI think tank tha the UK needs to get better prepared to deter the threat of conflict.