New York, Sept 28 (V7N) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov addressed the UN General Assembly on Saturday, accusing Western countries of repeatedly violating the principle of the equality of states, which he said has caused global crises and conflicts. Lavrov emphasized that the founding principles of the United Nations remain crucial in today’s “age of multipolarity.”
 
 
He cited the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, the US-led invasion of Iraq, and NATO’s military operation in Libya as examples of Western disregard for international norms. Lavrov said the West continues to divide the world into “us and them, democracy and autocracy, those at the table and those on the menu.”
 
Lavrov criticized the failure of a recent UN Security Council vote to extend sanction relief to Iran under the 2015 nuclear deal, claiming it demonstrates the West’s policy of “sabotaging constructive solutions” and using pressure to extract unilateral concessions. He called for the lifting of sanctions on Cuba and expressed solidarity with Venezuela against external sanctions.
 
The minister also cited the unilateral recognition of Kosovo as a violation of UN Resolution 1244 and argued that Europe is focused on “inflicting defeat on Russia.” Regarding Ukraine, he justified Russia’s military action, claiming the current Kyiv government arose from an anti-constitutional coup in 2014, sought to eliminate the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and suppressed the Russian language in education, media, and culture. Lavrov said Russia is open to negotiations if Ukrainian policies guarantee the rights of Russians and Russian-speaking communities.
 
Lavrov reassured that Russia has no intention of attacking EU or NATO countries, despite rhetoric in those regions suggesting otherwise. He expressed hope for constructive dialogue with the United States following recent talks in Alaska.
 
Lavrov argued that the current UN structure does not reflect the balance of global power. He supported Brazil and India’s bids for permanent Security Council seats and Secretary-General António Guterres’s proposed UN reforms. Lavrov stressed that the Secretariat must represent all countries fairly and resist domination by a small group. Russia plans a special Security Council meeting on UN Day, October 24, to discuss organizational development.
 
Warning of rising militarization and nationalist extremism, Lavrov claimed that NATO is surrounding Eurasia with a “military ring” and that Nazism is “rearing its head in Europe.” He urged UN member states and the Secretariat to strictly adhere to the UN Charter’s principles without double standards.
 
Russia’s address highlighted its calls for equitable international governance, respect for sovereignty, and the prevention of unilateral coercion in global affairs.
 
END/UN/SMA/AJ/