06:01'Russia has never threatened NATO' and has no interest in attacking Alliance countries, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu stated at a meeting of the heads of defence departments of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states in Astana on Friday.
"Russia has never threatened NATO. We have neither geopolitical nor military interests in attacking the bloc's countries. We are simply defending our people on our historical territories. We have always made every effort to maintain strategic stability and the global balance of power," Soigu said.
The minister also noted that the international situation remained difficult, claiming that the US and its allies were trying to impose their diktat on independent countries.
"In order to achieve its goals, Washington exerts unprecedented pressure, including on its partners, assigning them the role of obedient executors. There are many examples of US interference in the affairs of sovereign states, including bringing down unwanted regimes," the Russian Defence Minister stressed.
An extraordinary meeting of the defence ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member countries took place in Astana on Friday. The meeting was attended by heads of delegations from the defence ministries of Russia, India, Iran, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Belarus, which was an observer state and intends to join the SCO this year.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
'Russia has never threatened NATO' - Shoigu denies intimidating alliance, asserts no intent in attacking member states
'Russia has never threatened NATO' and has no interest in attacking Alliance countries, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu stated at a meeting of the heads of defence departments of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states in Astana on Friday.
"Russia has never threatened NATO. We have neither geopolitical nor military interests in attacking the bloc's countries. We are simply defending our people on our historical territories. We have always made every effort to maintain strategic stability and the global balance of power," Soigu said.
The minister also noted that the international situation remained difficult, claiming that the US and its allies were trying to impose their diktat on independent countries.
"In order to achieve its goals, Washington exerts unprecedented pressure, including on its partners, assigning them the role of obedient executors. There are many examples of US interference in the affairs of sovereign states, including bringing down unwanted regimes," the Russian Defence Minister stressed.
An extraordinary meeting of the defence ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member countries took place in Astana on Friday. The meeting was attended by heads of delegations from the defence ministries of Russia, India, Iran, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Belarus, which was an observer state and intends to join the SCO this year.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
'Russia has never threatened NATO' and has no interest in attacking Alliance countries, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu stated at a meeting of the heads of defence departments of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states in Astana on Friday.
"Russia has never threatened NATO. We have neither geopolitical nor military interests in attacking the bloc's countries. We are simply defending our people on our historical territories. We have always made every effort to maintain strategic stability and the global balance of power," Soigu said.
The minister also noted that the international situation remained difficult, claiming that the US and its allies were trying to impose their diktat on independent countries.
"In order to achieve its goals, Washington exerts unprecedented pressure, including on its partners, assigning them the role of obedient executors. There are many examples of US interference in the affairs of sovereign states, including bringing down unwanted regimes," the Russian Defence Minister stressed.
An extraordinary meeting of the defence ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member countries took place in Astana on Friday. The meeting was attended by heads of delegations from the defence ministries of Russia, India, Iran, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Belarus, which was an observer state and intends to join the SCO this year.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.