NEW YORK, September 26 — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has called for reform of the United Nations Security Council to give greater representation to Asia, Africa and Latin America, while ruling out additional seats for Western countries and reiterating Moscow’s willingness to pursue negotiations over the Ukraine conflict.
Speaking following the High-Level Week of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Lavrov addressed UN reform, Ukraine negotiations, Russia-US relations, European security and Moscow’s vision for a multipolar Eurasian framework.
His remarks followed Russia’s address to the UN General Assembly, where Moscow also argued that changes in the global balance of power should be reflected in international institutions. Mid.ru
Lavrov seeks broader representation at UN Security Council
Lavrov said the United Nations needed to adapt to changing global realities, including through reform of the Security Council.
He argued that additional representation should come from Asia, Africa and Latin America, while maintaining that Western countries were already overrepresented on the council.
The Russian foreign minister also said Moscow expected the next UN secretary-general to act impartially and represent the interests of the wider international community.
Russia says it remains open to Ukraine negotiations
Turning to Ukraine, Lavrov rejected claims that Moscow was avoiding diplomatic engagement.
He said Russia had participated in bilateral talks in Istanbul as well as trilateral discussions in Abu Dhabi involving the United States, arguing that Moscow had not been responsible for ending those rounds of negotiations.
Lavrov also referred to what he described as the “Islamabad Memorandum,” saying Moscow considered it a fair arrangement and questioning why the parties could not return to it.
Moscow pushes multipolar Eurasian framework
Lavrov said Russia was not imposing an artificial deadline for drafting what Moscow calls the Eurasian Charter of Diversity and Multipolarity in the 21st Century.
He said the proposed framework should remain open to all countries and organisations across Eurasia and operate without external interference.
Lavrov points to regular dialogue with Trump administration
On Russia-US relations, Lavrov said Moscow maintained regular communication with the administration of US President Donald Trump through different channels.
He described the existence of continued dialogue as a positive sign but argued that major international challenges could not be addressed by a single country acting alone.
Lavrov said Moscow wanted Washington to embrace a more multilateral approach to international affairs, arguing that the United States was no longer the world’s only major economic, military or independent geopolitical actor.
‘We are not going to wage war against Europe’
Lavrov also rejected suggestions that Russia was preparing for a war with Europe.
Referring to recent remarks by President Vladimir Putin, he said Moscow had no intention of launching such a conflict and described the idea as unfounded.
At the same time, Lavrov accused European governments of preparing for confrontation with Russia, reflecting the continuing deterioration in relations between Moscow and European capitals over the Ukraine conflict.