Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that the United States and Russia are close to engaging in direct military conflict, citing actions by the US and NATO. In an interview published on November 1, 2024, just days ahead of the U.S. presidential election, Lavrov accused the 'Anglo-Saxon powers' of preparing Europe for a 'suicidal' direct conflict with Russia if Ukraine fails. Speaking at the 'Creating the Future' International Symposium, he stated that NATO intends to conduct 'defensive battles' thousands of miles from its own territory and suggested that Western elites see no future in a multipolar world.
