Russia accuses NATO, EU of waging ‘actual struggle’ on it through Ukraine

Russia’s high diplomat accused NATO and the European Union of utilizing Ukraine to declare a “real war” towards his nation in a speech on the United Nations on Thursday (September 25, 2025) that Britain dismissed as “false fantasy world distortions.”

He spoke at a G20 assembly of Foreign Ministers on the U.N. two days after U.S. President Donald Trump signalled a harsher stance on Moscow, praising Ukraine’s struggle effort and saying NATO allies ought to shoot down Russian jets that enter their airspace.

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Tensions have mounted alongside Europe’s jap flank the place Estonia has accused Moscow of sending three fighter jets into its airspace, per week after NATO jets shot down Russian drones in Polish airspace.

“Another clear example is the crisis in Ukraine provoked by the West, through which NATO and the EU have … already declared a real war on my country and are directly involved in it,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov mentioned.

Lavrov, international minister for greater than 20 years, has made comparable remarks previously, however their echo throughout the partitions of the United Nations constructing — delivered in entrance of fellow G20 international ministers — underscored the gravity of the second.

He made no reference to Trump’s feedback earlier this week, as a substitute repeating Russia’s place that it was the West’s actions that provoked the struggle in Ukraine, which started when Moscow’s forces launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022.

’False Fantasy World Distortions’

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper known as out Mr. Lavrov as he made to depart when she started her speech and condemned Russia’s “unprovoked war of aggression” towards Ukraine.

“No amount of false fantasy world distortions, misinformation and propaganda from the Russian representative about the causes of the war will convince anyone,” she mentioned.

Russian forces occupy round 20% of Ukraine and the preventing rages within the east of the nation greater than 3-1/2 years because the full-scale invasion.

Europe’s Foreign Policy Chief, Kaja Kallas, known as on world powers to exert worldwide stress on the Kremlin.

“There are no signs that Russia’s goal of subjugating Ukraine has changed,” she mentioned.

Ukraine and Europe publicly welcomed Trump’s rhetorical U-turn on the struggle in Ukraine on Tuesday, through which he mocked the Russian navy’s sluggish progress, saying he believed Kyiv might flip the tables on Russia and retake its occupied land.

But some European diplomats have cautioned Mr. Trump’s statements could point out he’s transferring to depart Europe to hold the burden of supporting Ukraine.

Despite concerted lobbying by Europe and Ukraine, Mr. Trump has not imposed heavy new sanctions on Russia. Instead, he has imposed tariffs on merchandise from India for purchasing Russian oil and mentioned the potential for comparable motion towards China.

Speaking to reporters on the Oval Office on Thursday, Mr. Trump’s tone remained largely unchanged on Russia. He voiced disappointment with President Vladimir Putin’s actions and mentioned Moscow was doing poorly within the struggle in Ukraine.

Mr. Lavrov held talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday. He is because of handle the U.N. General Assembly on Saturday.