Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday that Russia is not interested in conflict, but NATO's eastward expansion will affect Moscow's vital interests.

As talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken began, on the sidelines of a meeting for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in Stockholm, Lavrov noted that concerning rising tensions in Europe on the borders, especially between Russia and Ukraine, Russia's stance is well-known, and it is - as President Putin put it - that Russia wants no struggle, he said.

"And let's not forget, of course, the proclaimed principle of indivisibility and security, including in the OSCE, in the NATO Council of Russia, which says that no one has the right to strengthen their security at the expense of the security of others. And the further advance of NATO to the East will definitely affect the fundamental interests of our security," Lavrov said.

Diplomatic issues

As for the diplomatic row regarding both countries' embassies, Lavrov said, "There exist some ‘domestic’ problems, I mean the problems faced by Russian diplomats in the US. Well, in response, we had to strive to create similar conditions for the US envoys in our country." 

"I believe that this is one of those issues that can be resolved very quickly and thereby, we can demonstrate that we are able to find common ground, as our presidents want," Lavrov noted.

The third round of Russia-US strategic stability consultations are due in early 2022, according to Russia's Foreign Minister.

As for the Ukraine crisis, Blinken said the US holds "deep concerns about Russia's plans for renewed aggression against Ukraine."

This aggression would "move us in exactly the opposite direction" Blinken said, stressing "it's simply not in anyone's interest."