Russia’s top diplomat has accused NATO and the European Union of using Ukraine to declare a “real war” against his country in a speech at the United Nations that Britain dismissed as “false fantasy world distortions.”
He spoke at a G20 meeting of foreign ministers at the U.N. two days after U.S. President Donald Trump signaled a harsher stance on Moscow, praising Ukraine’s war effort and saying NATO allies should shoot down Russian jets that enter their airspace.
Tensions have mounted along Europe’s eastern flank where Estonia has accused Moscow of sending three fighter jets into its airspace, a week after NATO jets shot down Russian drones in Polish airspace.
Sergei Lavrov, foreign minister for more than two decades, has made similar remarks in the past, but their echo within the walls of the United Nations building — delivered in front of fellow G20 foreign ministers — underscored the gravity of the moment.
Europe’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, called on world powers to exert international pressure on the Kremlin.
Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office on Thursday, US President Donald Trump’s tone remained largely unchanged on Russia. He voiced disappointment with President Vladimir Putin’s actions and said Moscow was doing poorly in the war in Ukraine.
