Lavrov Warns Europe Could Face Short War as Putin Threatens Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claims Europe is preparing for war, warning of a short conflict, as attacks continue in Ukraine and NATO scrambles jets. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused Western leaders of pushing President Vladimir Putin toward war, claiming Europe could be destroyed in a short conflict, during a press conference at the United Nations in New York. His remarks came hours after his first meeting with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. Lavrov, 76, alleged that Europe is preparing for war with Russia and that a Third World War could become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Lavrov Accuses Europe of War PreparationsLavrov told reporters that European leaders constantly state that by 2030 at the latest, they must be ready for war with Russia. He said this could become a self-fulfilling prophecy because they are investing huge amounts of money in weapons production, and at some point, some adventurer in these elites might say they have accumulated so much and promised to attack Russia. He implied the use of nuclear weapons, stating that if attacked, Russia would not stand idly by and that it would be a completely different war, and it would be short.Lavrov also accused Germany of seeking to create a Fourth Reich and fuel Nazism in Europe. He claimed that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said more than once that the goal is for Germany to once again become Europe's leading military power, and questioned whether Merz understands the meaning of once again. He alleged that European countries are erasing the memory of those who defeated Nazism from textbooks and removing their monuments.Germany and Ukraine Respond Amid Ongoing AttacksGerman Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said that he does not want Europeans to completely leave dialogue with Russia to the Americans, and that is why he had the conversation. He demanded a halt to Russia's hybrid attacks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that many intelligence services have information that the Russians want to expand their war and activities to other countries, possibly other regions.In overnight strikes, Russia targeted Ukraine's high-tech data centers, a campaign that has already blacked out TV channels and threatened mobile internet. A mushroom-shaped cloud appeared in Kyiv after explosions in the Solomenskyi district, where at least one person was killed. The office of mobile operator and internet provider Vodafone was targeted in the Shevchenkivskyi district. In Romania, NATO F-18 warplanes and an IAR-330 SOCAT helicopter were scrambled amid a threat from Russian drones close to the River Danube border with Ukraine.Civilian Casualties Mount in UkraineTwo people were killed and another 28 injured, including children, in Russian army strikes using guided aerial bombs on Sumy in Ukraine. Three people were killed and at least four injured in the Zaporizhzhia region as Russian attacks continued.Lavrov's warnings appeared to contradict claims from Putin that he has no intention of going to war on the continent. The strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure and the scrambling of NATO jets highlight the escalating tensions.The international community remains on high alert as diplomatic efforts falter and violence persists in the region.