Lavrov urges Europe to end 'geopolitical games' in terror fight

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has called on European countries to end their “geopolitical games” and join forces to fight terrorism following recent attacks in Brussels that killed 31 people.

Europe is facing its worst security crisis in decades after Tuesday's triple bombing in Brussels and November bomb and gun assaults in Paris that killed 130 people.

Russia's call to unite against terrorism comes amid a diplomatic push to end the five-year conflict in Syria, where the West backs militants fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad, turning the country into a breeding ground for terrorists.

Some of those behind Paris and Brussels attacks are said to have fought in Syria in the ranks of Takfiri groups before returning to Europe.

The Syria conflict has killed hundreds of thousands, allowed Daesh to take control of some eastern areas and caused the world's worst refugee crisis.

“I hope that all Europeans, in the face of the terrible terrorism threat and in light of the Brussels terror acts, will put aside geopolitical games and unite in order not to allow terrorists to run the show on the continent,” Lavrov said on Wednesday.

He made the remarks during a meeting with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Moscow, who visited to discuss Syria and other issues with Russian leaders.

The German Foreign Ministry said Steinmeier had an “open and constructive dialogue” with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the conflict in Ukraine and Syria peace efforts.

His visit came as US Secretary of State John Kerry touched down in the Russian capital ahead of talks with Putin and Lavrov on Thursday.

Relationship between Russia and the West has slipped to its lowest point since Crimea’s separation from Ukraine and reunification with Russia following a referendum in March 2014.

MG