– NATO and the European Union should not have any doubts about this – emphasized Lavrov.
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Russian representative at the UN. Empty chairs in the meeting room
However, the speech of the Russian minister had an extremely modest audience. Recordings from the UN meeting room show an almost empty auditorium. Many diplomats from Western countries have boycotted the speech of a representative of Russia, which is a symbolic reaction to aggression on Ukraine, which has been going on since February 2022.
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Russia has been trying to present the war as “a conflict about geopolitical causes” since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, blaming the West about escalation. Lavrov repeated this message, suggesting that Moscow is open to conversations, but only in a formula convenient for the Kremlin.
For over two years, Moscow has not agreed to any real peace negotiations, rejecting, among others The President of Ukraine's President Wołodymyr Zielnski, which assumes, among others Withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied areas.
UN and the war in Ukraine
In recent years, the forum of the UN General Assembly has become a place of sharp exchange of positions between Ukraine, its allies and Russia. Most Member States have repeatedly condemned the Kremlin's aggression and called for respect for the territorial integrity of Ukraine. At the same time, Moscow uses this forum to reproduce its narrative and attempts to convince the Global South countries to “neutrality” in the face of conflict.
Lavrov declarations about readiness to negotiate are part of the Kremlin's current tactics – introducing themselves as a “open to dialogue” page, while continuing the war. In recent months, the Russian army has intensified attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and is conducting intensive activities in Donbass.
Although Lavrov's words formally suggest the possibility of talks, the reaction of the international community – visible in empty benches during its speech – shows the deep isolation of Russia in the global arena.
