"There are all grounds to expect escalation in a terrorist wave, new large-scale terrorist acts. An effective response to such challenges within the framework of international law and liberal democratic values creates an unprecedented complex dilemma for us in the field of security," Sergei Ivanov told the international security conference in Munich.
According to Ivanov, armed forces, prepared and equipped to carry out traditional highly-intensive combat operations, are not always optimal for confrontation in armed conflicts involving criminal and nationalist elements and international terrorism.
The Russian defense minister said terrorism is seeking to capitalize on the conflict potential, which has built up in the course of many years in various regions of the world.
"We have got convinced that terror is a malicious and insidious enemy, which cannot be destroyed only with the use of weapons. That is why, today we are speaking about the need of asymmetric measures," Ivanov said.
The Russian defense minister said it is necessary to give up the policy of double standards and situational political benefits to fight terrorism successfully.
At the same time, any use of force must be sanctioned by the UN, Ivanov said.
"The use of force in international relations, including the fight against international terrorism, must take place exclusively within the framework of international law and with the UN's dominating role," the Russian defense minister said.
