Ryabkov said NATO's “provocative activity” in the Baltic is growing and warned Europe about the consequences of a possible attack

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, in a video address to participants of a round table at the OSCE venue in Vienna, stated that there is growing “malicious and provocative activity of the West in the Baltic region” and warned that Russia is ready for a military confrontation if European countries start a war first — according to him, such a conflict “would not last very long.”

Aziz KarimovFirst published on tafs uz 9 November 2026 at 19:171 min read

The key facts

Ryabkov said the West's provocative activity in the Baltic region is growing
The statement was made at a round table on the militarization of Europe at the OSCE venue in Vienna
Ryabkov warned Europe about the consequences of a possible attack on Russia

Statement at the OSCE venue

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated that the activity of Western countries in the Baltic region, which Moscow views as provocative, is increasing. The remarks were delivered via video address to participants of an international round table on the militarization of Europe, held at the OSCE venue in Vienna; participants discussed the consequences of European countries building up their military capabilities and the related security threats. “We are observing a growth in the malicious and provocative activity of the West in the Baltic region,” the outlet quotes the diplomat as saying Life.ru.

Warning about consequences

In the same address, Ryabkov warned Europe about the consequences of a possible attack on Russia. According to him, Moscow is ready for a military confrontation if European countries start a war first, and, as the diplomat emphasized, such a conflict “would not last very long.” The report contains no reaction from NATO, European countries, or the OSCE to these statements, nor any specific details on which Western actions in the Baltic region Moscow considers provocative.