United Nations, Sept 23 (The Street Press) – On Saturday, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov talked about how the United States and Europe seem to think they’re superior to the rest of the world in their efforts to win over developing countries. He also mentioned that Moscow doesn’t completely say no to the UN trying to bring back a Black Sea grain deal, but he thinks the recent idea they proposed just won’t work.
Lavrov shared his thoughts following a busy week of global diplomacy at the yearly United Nations meeting of world leaders. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was there in person, along with Western allies, working hard to gain support for Kyiv. Lavrov mentioned that he had meetings with over 30 countries during this eventful week.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the United Nations pointed to the war as a cause of the worsening global food crisis. This situation created a new diplomatic battleground, where Moscow and Kyiv competed for support, particularly from impoverished and developing nations.
In his speech to the 193-member U.N. General Assembly on Saturday, Lavrov characterized it as a battle between the majority of the world and a small group that clings to colonial tactics to hold onto their slipping dominance.
In July 2022, a significant agreement was reached with the help of the United Nations and Turkey. It provided some relief in the food crisis by permitting the safe export of Ukrainian grain from the Black Sea, which also led to a reduction in global grain prices. However, Russia withdrew from this agreement two months ago, citing dissatisfaction with the efforts to enhance its own exports.
In a letter sent to Lavrov last month, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres outlined four specific measures that the U.N. could swiftly undertake if there was a mutual understanding for Russia to resume the Black Sea grain deal.
Lavrov explained during a news conference at the United Nations that they’ve conveyed to the Secretary-General why his proposals won’t be effective. They’re not outright rejecting them; they simply view them as unrealistic and unworkable.
Both Ukraine and Russia play significant roles in the global grain market, and Moscow is also a major supplier of fertilizer worldwide.
The U.N.’s proposals hinge on the cooperation of Western countries and the private sector. However, since Russia exited the deal, there have been numerous airstrikes on Ukrainian ports and grain storage facilities. Antonio Guterres mentioned this week that these actions are undermining the U.N.’s efforts to facilitate Russian food and fertilizer exports.
Lavrov also expressed to reporters that Kyiv’s 10-point peace plan was “completely not feasible” and suggested that if Ukraine and the West continued to adhere to it, the conflict would likely be resolved through military means.
Both Lavrov and Zelenskiy, who made the journey to New York for his first in-person address to the United Nations since Russia’s invasion, participated in a U.N. Security Council meeting on Ukraine but did not have a chance to meet face-to-face.
Lavrov announced that he is planning to visit Pyongyang next month to carry forward negotiations with his North Korean counterpart. This comes after recent agreements reached between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during their meeting in Moscow.
