Lavrov: European security hostage to U.S. policies

The European people’s safety has become hostage to the destructive policies pursued by the US and Russia-haters in the EU, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

"Regrettably, the European people’s safety and European peace have become hostage to the destructive policies pursued by Washington and a small but highly aggressive group of Russia-haters in the European Union," the top Russian diplomat said, addressing members of the Association of European Businesses.

He pointed out that NATO continued its military build-up near Russia’s borders.

"Washington’s withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, unanimously supported by NATO members although the situation is controversial, does not add optimism," TASS cited the minister as saying.

"Such actions raise military and political tensions, particularly in our common neighborhood," Lavrov emphasized.