MINSK, October 26. /TASS/. Europe, under US pressure, is looking at incurring direct losses, as one of Washington’s objectives has been to stymie Europe’s economic independence, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

"Europe is now looking at incurring direct losses under Washington's pressure. <...> I think that among the tasks the Americans had was also to weaken Europe and not to give it the opportunity to straighten its shoulders economically and become independent," the Russian top diplomat said.

He reiterated that Russia remained open to equal and honest cooperation with other countries. "I pointed out that we do not close the doors to anyone in these processes. But if Europe now prefers to shut itself off, then, as you said, Alexander Grigoryevich (Lukashenko - TASS), we will have to move from division of labor to independently creating everything we need for development, for security," Lavrov said.

"But, again, if and when they come to their senses and realize that they are depriving themselves of mutually advantageous economic prospects and come back, probably then you and I, together with all those who will now cooperate in our integration agencies, will look to see what ideas they will come up with," the top diplomat added.