Russia has issued a fresh warning to Europe as tensions between Moscow and NATO continue to rise. Speaking in Belarus, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow does not seek war with Europe but is prepared to respond if European countries initiate a conflict. He warned that such a war would be “different and very short.” Lavrov also accused Western nations of expanding NATO-style military alliances in Asia, criticising Japan’s reported remilitarisation and nuclear policy debate. He further blamed NATO countries for destabilising the Middle East and rejected European security initiatives that exclude Russia.