Zakharova says Russia would respond to aggression from Western Europe

The Russian Federation will take adequate measures in response to any act of aggression by Western Europe or the European Union (EU), Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing.

“Operative Information Center-OMM” reports that Zakharova said Russia’s position had been stated clearly and openly in relevant remarks by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The diplomat stressed that Moscow was not threatening any side. She recalled that Russia had no plans to enter a military conflict with Western European countries, a position that both President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had stated repeatedly.

Zakharova also responded to EU officials’ allegations that Russia was carrying out “hybrid attacks,” which she said were unsupported by evidence. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, such unfounded claims serve only to divert public attention from domestic problems in Europe.

“As the crisis in the European Union deepens because of its mistaken political and economic calculations, attempts are being made to attribute increasingly broader plans to Russia,” the diplomat added. Zakharova said the EU’s choice to pursue confrontation with Moscow would further aggravate Europe’s existing problems.