Russia's top diplomat rejects German calls to ease off its `dangerous' escalation toward the country
UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- Russia's top diplomat rejected German calls to ease off its "dangerous path of escalation" toward the country, instead accusing
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed German calls to ease tensions with Russia, accusing Berlin of being Ukraine's primary supporter and seeking to become a leading military power in Europe. At the U.N. General Assembly, Lavrov questioned Germany's understanding of potential consequences, recalling lessons from World War II.
The meeting, initiated by German Foreign Minister Johannis Wadephul, marked the first such one-on-one between the two nations since 2022's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Lavrov reiterated his stance against Russia, challenging Germany to identify any vessels damaged or targeted by Russian strikes, insisting there are no such instances.
He also criticized the Western aspiration to defeat Russia, predicting it would lead to a strategic dead end. Lavrov dismissed the possibility of Germany or Japan gaining permanent seats on the U.N. Security Council, emphasizing Russia's readiness to return to the 2025 Alaska meeting between former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He presented Russia as a major global player despite its ongoing war in Ukraine and isolation from the West. Lavrov's speech came amid ongoing aerial hostilities between Russia and Ukraine, with both sides inflicting casualties and causing global repercussions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Western partners to maintain pressure on Russia, while Lavrov portrayed Russia as a forward-looking and constructive force in the global arena.
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