UNITED NATIONS: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, criticized Ukraine’s peace proposal and warned the West against attempting to “fight to victory” with a nuclear power like Russia.
He argued that Western support for Ukraine’s 10-point peace plan, initiated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, was unrealistic and dangerous. Lavrov pointed out that Moscow had rejected the plan, and he dismissed the notion of defeating a nuclear power through conventional means.
Lavrov accused Western powers of seeking a strategic defeat for Russia, invoking parallels to the 1940s when he claimed there were plans to “destroy” the Soviet Union. He further suggested that current Western strategies, particularly from the “Anglo-Saxon” bloc, aimed to involve Europe in a “suicidal” conflict.
He reassured that Russia is not expanding its nuclear arsenal and confirmed that, while Russia has suspended its participation in the New START treaty with the U.S., it remains committed to key terms of the agreement until its expiration in 2026.
Lavrov also commented on the escalating conflict in the Middle East, expressing concern over potential provocations that could lead to a broader regional war involving Iran and the United States. He praised Iran for its restraint in the current crisis and called for an end to the use of terrorist tactics.
