Kathmandu: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused Western countries of acting recklessly and unpredictably, warning that their policies are putting the lives of billions of people around the world at risk.
Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Lavrov said Europe was doing everything possible to derail prospects for peace talks on Ukraine, despite what he described as US interest in negotiations.
He said Russia would eliminate all security threats to the Russian Federation posed by Kyiv and insisted that peaceful life in Europe would eventually be restored regardless of circumstances.
Lavrov also accused leaders of several European Union countries of promoting what he described as a “virus of racial superiority” and enabling the spread of Nazism. He further claimed that Western countries were undermining the foundations of the United Nations by turning a blind eye to what Moscow calls the rise of “Ukrainian Nazism.”
According to Lavrov, Western attempts to contain Russia have destroyed Europe’s existing security architecture. He also accused NATO of seeking to expand its influence into other parts of the world, including Southeast and Northeast Asia.
On the Balkans, Lavrov said Serbia was being pressured to impose sanctions on Moscow in exchange for the prospect of European Union membership.
Middle East and Palestine
Addressing developments in the Middle East, Lavrov said restoring trust between Arab countries and Iran was essential to resolving tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.
He described the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader and government officials as an unacceptable use of force and called on the United Nations to take unconventional measures to reverse what he called negative trends in the Middle East.
Lavrov also said Russia believes the time has come to establish a Palestinian state.
Venezuela and Cuba
Lavrov said Russia was demanding the immediate release of Nicolás Maduro and his wife and called for assurances that similar incidents would not happen again.
He also called for the lifting of the blockade against Cuba and urged urgent measures to address what he described as the island’s severe humanitarian situation.
Lavrov concluded by saying Russia expects the next UN Secretary-General to act independently and not serve the interests of individual states.
