Russian FM Sergei Lavrov accused European countries of blocking peace talks — which he said have US backing — as cross-border strikes left at least 16 people dead in 24 hours. Both Moscow and Kyiv have intensified attacks after a deadly summer, with civilian casualties rising and cities on both sides struck. Lavrov held talks with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and met US officials, while tensions with Germany rise over an alleged attempted drone attack in Leipzig. Efforts to secure a negotiated settlement remain stalled.
Lavrov Accuses Europe Of Blocking Ukraine Peace Talks As Cross-Border Strikes Kill 16
Another drone strike damaged an apartment building in Kyiv (Tetiana DZHAFAROVA)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday accused European countries of deliberately obstructing efforts to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, after a fresh round of strikes that both sides said left 16 people dead over 24 hours.
Attacks And Casualties
Officials in Kyiv and Moscow reported a combined toll of at least 16 casualties in the past day. Ukrainian authorities said Russian strikes killed at least six people in Sumy, Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions, including a 17-year-old girl. Russia reported that Ukrainian strikes killed four people in the Krasnodar and Belgorod regions, while Kremlin-installed authorities in occupied parts of southern Ukraine reported six additional fatalities.
United Nations officials have warned that civilian casualties are rising as the conflict grinds on. Kyiv also reported seven daytime deaths in strikes on the capital on Friday.
Diplomatic Flashpoints
Lavrov delivered his remarks to the UN General Assembly in New York, where he accused Europe of blocking talks he said are supported by the administration of US President Donald Trump. Lavrov also met with US officials in New York, including Senator Marco Rubio, and later held talks with Germany's foreign minister, Johann Wadephul — the first meeting between Moscow and Berlin's top diplomats since before the 2022 invasion.
Tensions between Germany and Russia have surged in recent days after Berlin accused Moscow of orchestrating an attempted drone attack on Leipzig airport. Both countries have ordered the temporary closure of each other's consulates amid wider concerns about alleged sabotage and hybrid operations on European soil.
Rhetoric And Strategic Aims
In his UN speech, Lavrov reiterated Moscow's long-standing language, calling the campaign a "special military operation" and insisting that its objectives would be met and perceived threats to Russian security eliminated. He also criticized proposed Western influence over UN reform, saying additional Security Council seats should not be granted to Western countries such as Germany and Japan.
"Europe is doing everything it can to thwart peace talks in which the Trump administration is interested," Lavrov said, according to his UN remarks.
Outlook
Despite repeated claims by international mediators that a deal remains possible — including President Trump saying at the UN that an agreement is "going to happen" — US-led talks have produced no breakthrough. Meanwhile, Moscow has intensified strikes on Kyiv as the city braces for another winter of war, and Ukraine has continued to strike deeper into Russian territory, reportedly reaching targets as far away as the Urals and Siberia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia is "escalating every single day" and called for additional sanctions from allies. Residents and witnesses continue to report the human cost of the conflict, underscoring the urgent humanitarian concerns behind the diplomatic maneuvers.
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