Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticized the United States and its Western allies during a speech at the United Nations on September 26, 2026. He referred to them as "warmongers" and attempted to create divisions between the US and Europe while defending Russia's actions in Ukraine.
Lavrov condemned US military actions in Venezuela and Iran, citing Russian President Vladimir Putin's views on Western dominance. He stated, "The West aspires to inflict strategic defeat on Russia, but these aspirations will result in the warmongers being led into a strategic dead end." He accused the US of invading Venezuela and claimed that international law protects high-ranking officials from such actions.
He also condemned the US and Israeli military actions against Iran, asserting that they target civilian infrastructure. Regarding Ukraine, Lavrov accused the US and its allies of prolonging the conflict by supplying weapons to Ukraine, while he did not address Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilian targets.
Additionally, Lavrov criticized the US embargo against Cuba and expressed support for lifting trade restrictions. He accused European leaders of failing to learn from historical events and suggested that they are influenced by a sense of racial superiority.
Lavrov's remarks followed President Trump's invitation to Putin for the G20 summit in Miami this December, which has faced bipartisan criticism from US lawmakers. Lavrov concluded his address by criticizing Western powers for their historical dominance and suggesting that their actions threaten global stability.