Russia’s foreign minister has accused Europe of blocking peace talks over Ukraine, as Moscow and Kyiv continue to intensify their attacks and efforts backed by the United States fail to secure a lasting ceasefire.
Sergei Lavrov made the allegation in a speech to the United Nations General Assembly, claiming that European countries were working against negotiations supported by the Trump administration.
“Europe is doing everything it can to thwart peace talks in which the Trump administration is interested,” Mr Lavrov said.
He also insisted that Russia would achieve the aims of what Moscow calls its “special military operation”, saying the threat to Russian security would be removed and peace would eventually return.
The remarks came after the deadliest summer in Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion in 2022. Russian attacks killed four people across Ukraine on Saturday, according to officials, while Ukrainian forces continued to target Russian oil refineries and industrial sites with long-range drones.
US President Donald Trump said he hoped Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin would reach an agreement, after meeting Mr Zelenskyy at the UN General Assembly.
“You know what I want him to do? Make a deal,” Mr Trump said, referring to Mr Zelenskyy. “I want him to settle with Putin, and I want Putin to settle with him.”
Mr Zelenskyy said Russia was escalating the conflict “every single day”. He added on social media: “If the Russians have chosen to make their strikes even more brutal, the world must choose stronger responses to keep the war from spreading further.”
Before his address, Mr Lavrov held talks with Germany’s foreign minister, Johann Wadephul. It was the first meeting between the foreign ministers of Russia and Germany since before the war.
The meeting took place amid worsening relations between Berlin and Moscow. Germany has accused Russia of orchestrating an attempted drone attack on Leipzig airport, while both countries have ordered the closure of the other’s consulate.
European governments, including Germany, have also warned in recent days of what they describe as increased Russian sabotage activity on their territory.
In his own address to the assembly, Mr Wadephul said Russia’s war threatened millions of innocent people, the existence of the Ukrainian state and culture, and the European peace order. He urged Moscow to negotiate an end to the fighting.
