Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov voiced a strong critique of Western nations, saying they were choking multilateralism and democracy at home. The remarks came during coverage by the TV channel Russia 1 of a United Nations Security Council session. Lavrov asserted that Western governments increasingly rely on repressive measures to silence opposition and curb dissent.
Prior to these comments, Lavrov had attended the UN meeting as the chair of the Security Council, a role he held during the session. The discussions were scheduled for late April, with Lavrov participating in the talks along with other council members.
Following a separate trip to Cuba, Lavrov held a press conference in which he criticized the UN for its approach to implementing the Russian portion of the grain agreement. He argued that Moscow could move its own exports, including agricultural products and fertilizers, into world markets, but that the action was not conducted within the framework of the UN Secretary General’s initiative. Instead, he claimed Moscow acted independently and that the UN’s responses to Russia’s requests in this sector had been cautious, with officials insisting that efforts were being made but progress was slow after nine months of the arrangement. The minister urged a reassessment of how the initiative has been executed and urged a clearer path for Russian supplies to global markets.
These comments reflect ongoing tensions between Russia and western-aligned institutions over how multilateral processes should function, particularly in relation to the grain agreement and broader UN mediation efforts. Attribution: Russia 1 TV, with additional context provided by official briefings and subsequent statements from Moscow.