Russia says US, West destabilizing global order, economy

WASHINGTON

The foundations of the international legal order, strategic stability and the UN-centric system of global politics are being put to the test, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday.

"It will be impossible to resolve the conflicts that are multiplying and without getting to the root causes and restoring faith in our ability to join forces for the common good and justice for all," Lavrov said during a UN Security Council debate on "the parameters of a just world order."

Lavrov accused the US of long "declaring its own exceptionalism" before adding: "This also applies to Washington's attitude towards its allies, from whom it demands unquestioning obedience, even to the detriment of their national interests."

The Russian diplomat said the West is "aggressively dismantling" the global system that was originally built based on its models to contain Russia, China and other countries whose independent policies are seen as a challenge to its hegemony.

"Washington has done everything to blow up, including literally, by organizing terrorist attacks on the Nord Stream gas pipelines, the foundations of mutually beneficial energy cooperation between Russia, Germany and Europe," he added.

The foreign minister also accused the US of holding "the entire West at gunpoint" and expanding its trade and economic war against those it deems undesirable.

He claimed it "unleashed an unprecedented campaign of unilateral, coercive measures that are hitting Europe first and are leading to a fragmentation of the world economy."

Reaction to Russia

Ahead of the meeting chaired by Lavrov, Ukraine and dozens of other nations rebuked Russia for holding the session, saying "the topic of debate is another clear demonstration of Russia's hypocrisy."

On behalf of the 50 member nations, Ukrainian UN envoy Sergiy Kyslytsya, said: "Today's meeting must not distract the international community from Russia's flagrant violations of the UN Charter and its abuse of the UN Security Council while cynically attempting to present, to present itself as the guardian of the multilateral order."

"We reiterate our resolute condemnation of the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine, and reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine's political independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders," said Kyslytsya.

*Serife Cetin in New York contributed to the story