Russia accuses Europe of seeking to thwart Ukraine talks

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused Europe of trying to thwart peace talks with Ukraine, according to Al-Monitor. He made the comments in a speech at the UN, where he also stated that Russia would achieve its goals in Ukraine.

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate, with Ukraine destroying a record 76 Russian air-defense systems this month, as reported by Euromaidan Press, citing analyst Oleksandr Kovalenko. This is part of a broader campaign by Ukraine to target Russian air defenses and open up corridors for further strikes.

The violence has also spilled over into neighboring countries, with Poland, Romania, and Moldova reporting regular drone attacks and airspace violations, according to DW News and DW English. At least 16 people were killed in the past 24 hours as Russia and Ukraine exchanged drone and missile strikes, France 24 reported, citing authorities from both countries. The UN has warned of rising civilian deaths as the conflict intensifies.

Brief written by urgent.news from Al-Monitor, Euromaidan Press, France 24, DW News, DW English (Top Stories) — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.