Blinken and Russia's Lavrov clash on Ukraine at a security meeting in Malta
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has clashed indirectly with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at an annual security meeting, accusing the West of risking escalation to the war over Ukraine but walking out before Blinken and other speakers could respond
VALLETTA, Malta (AP) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov clashed Thursday indirectly with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at an annual security meeting, accusing the West of risking escalation over Ukraine but walking out before Blinken and other speakers could respond.
Speaking at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe ministerial meeting in Malta, Lavrov accused the West of reviving the Cold War and provoking a direct conflict with Russia.
He said the U.S. actions were driven by a desire to “return NATO to the political spotlight.” “After the Afghan disgrace, there was a need for a new common enemy,” Lavrov said during his first stop in an EU nation since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
“The result is the reincarnation of the Cold War, but now with the far greater risk of its escalation into the hot phase.”
