Source: United Nations (video statements)
“We have nothing to hide. We never attack civilian infrastructure,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told journalists. “Incidents happen, but we never conduct targeted fire against them.”
Speaking during his press conference on the sidelines of the General Assembly, Lavrov described what he called a “deep transformation” in global affairs. He said this reflected a clash between “an objective and historically driven process of shaping of the multipolar world” and “those who would like to maintain unipolarity.”
Lavrov said Russia does not target European countries with drones or missiles. He added that Moscow had proposed talks with Poland after recent incidents, but “no one wants to discuss facts.”
On the Middle East, Lavrov referred to discussions at a recent Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit. He said the meetings had addressed “the atrocities that are being perpetrated on the Gaza Strip,” adding that “collective punishment targeting the Palestinian people” was prohibited under international law. Russia, he said, was ready to join efforts aimed at stopping the violence.
Turning to Iran, Lavrov said Western policies amounted to “a deliberate operation aimed at coming to the next level of choking the Islamic Republic of Iran in terms of economy and finance.”
Lavrov also commented on U.S. policy, saying, “we don’t see that the US is withdrawing from the policy of holding an open and honest dialogue.”
Asked about Ukraine, he rejected the idea of restoring the country’s 2022 borders, saying such expectations would be “political blindness.” He said Russia was acting to uphold “our legitimate interests” and those of people whom, he claimed, were marginalized by the authorities in Kyiv.
“There’s no discussion of the 2022 borders,” Lavrov said. “We’re talking about the borders which are enshrined in Russian constitution.”
He further alleged that drones were being modified to make it appear as if they were launched from Russia. While acknowledging that “serious capitals” understood the situation, he said Western elites remained “committed to the goal of suppressing Russia.”
Lavrov warned that any military steps against Russian territory would bring consequences. “A response to things like that… they will seriously regret it,” he said. “Our president has said time and time again that we will not allow for any violation of our territory, our airspace on the part of those in Europe who are openly prepared to go to war with us.”