New york: Russia is ready to hold negotiations to address the root causes of the conflict with Ukraine, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Saturday. Lavrov emphasized the necessity of ensuring Russia’s security and vital interests while restoring the rights of Russian people and Russian-speaking populations in Ukraine.
According to Qatar News Agency, Lavrov, during the general debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), expressed Russia’s openness to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine. He highlighted that such negotiations must be grounded in a reliable respect for Moscow’s rights and interests. Lavrov underscored the grave violations of the principle of equality in sovereignty among nations, which he argued undermine belief in justice and contribute to crises and conflicts.
Lavrov called for the full upholding of this principle to ensure a fair status for all nations in the international system, irrespective of military might, population size, or economic status. He criticized the West for flagrantly violating the principle of refraining from the use or threat of force, which he claimed has destabilized the Middle East.
He pointed out that the unlawful use of force by Israel against Palestinians and aggressive measures targeting countries like Iran, Qatar, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq, pose a threat of igniting the entire region. Lavrov condemned strikes on Iranian facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards and the strike on Doha during negotiations with the Hamas Movement, involving US mediators.
Lavrov stressed there is no justification for the killing of Palestinian civilians or the collective punishment in Gaza, where children face bombardment and starvation, and hospitals and schools are destroyed, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee.
Regarding Russia-US relations, Lavrov expressed hope for continued dialogue between Moscow and Washington, following the Alaska summit between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. He emphasized the need for practical solutions to the Ukrainian crisis and actionable cooperation, steering clear of rigid ideological stances.
Lavrov noted that Russia and the US have a special responsibility to the global situation and must avoid risks that could lead to a new war. On UN reform, he pointed out that the current global power balance differs radically from 80 years ago and stressed the need to broaden representation of Asia, Africa, and Latin America in the Security Council. Lavrov called for transparency and safeguarding the interests of all member states, countering the West’s attempts to impose its own rules-based order on international institutions.