Dhe Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has accused western states of having a “grotesque” fear of Russia. “Official Russophobia in the West is unprecedented, the scale is grotesque,” Lavrov said at the UN general debate in New York on Saturday. The states did not shy away from “destroying Russia”. Lavrov’s speech had been eagerly awaited against the background of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
The UN general debate this year is dominated by the Ukraine war, which escalated further this week due to the partial Russian mobilization. The Russian Foreign Minister had already given a speech to the UN Security Council on Thursday, making serious allegations against Ukraine – and left the room after his speech.
Lavrov defends referendums
Lavrov accused the US on Saturday of trying to “turn the whole world into their backyard.” “After declaring itself victorious in the Cold War, Washington has almost risen to become an emissary of God on earth, with no obligations other than the sacred right to act with impunity anywhere, anytime,” he said. He also said the US government would be “playing with fire” on the Taiwan issue.
He also defended the so-called referendums in four Russian-controlled areas in Ukraine for annexation by Russia. Only people claimed the land “on which their ancestors have lived for hundreds of years,” Lavrov said. “The West is now freaking out about the referendums.”
Kyiv and its western allies have criticized the referendums in the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk and in the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions as sham referendums. A connection of the four Ukrainian regions to Russia as a result of the “referendums” is condemned by the West as illegal. US President Joe Biden threatened Russia with tough sanctions in the event of annexations on Friday.
Lavrov: UN Security Council must adapt to realities
However, the foreign minister was open to a US push to change the composition of the UN Security Council. According to Lavrov, the most powerful body of the United Nations must adapt to the realities in the world and be expanded in favor of countries from Latin America, Africa and Asia.
In Moscow’s view, Brazil and India in particular are worthy candidates for becoming permanent members because of their important global role, he adds. Together with Germany and Japan, these two countries belong to the so-called G4 states, which have been fighting for a reform of the 15-member Security Council for years.
In his speech, Biden called for reform of the body
So far, the five permanent members of the body, the USA, Russia, China, France and Great Britain, have veto rights and can thus block all actions. Russia and China in particular have so far been seen as skeptics about reform. Germany has been in favor of this for years and is hoping for more influence.
But Lavrov appeared to express reservations about changing decision-making processes at the body, saying: “We are also concerned about efforts by countries that are undermining the prerogatives of the Security Council.”
The topic of expanding the UN Security Council has picked up speed at least since US President Joe Biden’s speech to the General Assembly on Wednesday. In front of the UN member states, he called for the reform of the body: He supported the increase in the number of permanent and non-permanent representatives of the council. Countries from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean must have permanent seats, Biden demanded.
