DRussian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused western countries of having a “strange” fear of Russia. “Official Russophobia in the West is unprecedented, the scale is appalling,” Lavrov said at the UN general debate in New York on Saturday. Countries did not shy away from “crushing Russia”. Lavrov’s speech was eagerly awaited against the backdrop of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

This year’s UN general debate has been dominated by the Ukraine war, which escalated further this week due to Russia’s partial mobilization. Russia’s foreign minister gave a speech to the UN Security Council on Thursday, making serious accusations against Ukraine – and left the room after his speech.

Lavrov defends referendum

Lavrov accused the US on Saturday of trying to “turn the whole world into their backyard.” “After declaring itself victorious in the Cold War, Washington has almost risen to become God’s messenger on earth, with no obligation other than the sacred right to act without punishment anywhere, anytime,” he said. He also said the US government would “play with fire” on the Taiwan issue.

He also defended the so-called referendum on four Russian-controlled territories in Ukraine for annexation by Russia. Only people claim the land “where their ancestors lived for hundreds of years,” Lavrov said. “The West is now panicking about the referendum.”

Kyiv and its western allies have criticized the referendums in the separatist Donetsk and Luhansk regions and in the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions as bogus. The connection of the four regions of Ukraine to Russia as a result of the “referendum” was condemned by the West as illegal. US President Joe Biden threatened Russia with tough sanctions if it annexed on Friday.

Lavrov: UN Security Council must adapt to reality

However, the Foreign Minister is open to US pressure to change the composition of the UN Security Council. According to Lavrov, the most powerful agency of the United Nations must adapt to the realities of the world and develop for the sake of countries from Latin America, Africa and Asia.

In Moscow’s view, Brazil and India in particular are viable candidates for permanent membership because of their important role in the world, he added. Along with Germany and Japan, the two countries belong to the so-called G4 countries, which have been fighting for reform of the 15-member Security Council for years.

Biden calls for body reform

So far, the body’s five permanent members, the US, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom, have veto power and can thus block any action. Russia and China in particular have so far been viewed as skeptical about reforms. Germany has supported this for years and expects more influence.

But Lavrov appeared to object to changes to the agency’s decision-making process, saying: “We are also concerned about the efforts of states to undermine the prerogatives of the Security Council.”

The topic of expanding the UN Security Council has been on the rise since at least US President Joe Biden’s speech at the General Assembly on Wednesday. In front of UN member states, he called for agency reform: He supported increasing the number of permanent and non-permanent representatives of the council. Countries from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean should have permanent seats, Biden demanded.