Russia condemns Israeli actions as Lavrov calls for ceasefire

Russia Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Saturday urged the nation to condemns what he described as “essentially Israeli methods of settling political scores” in the wake of the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Speaking at a news conference in New York, Lavrov expressed concern that Israel is attempting to provoke Iran and Hezbollah into escalating the conflict, thereby drawing the United States into direct involvement in the Middle East turmoil.

Lavrov highlighted that Nasrallah’s killing was not an isolated incident, citing the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran earlier this year and Israel’s attack on the Iranian diplomatic mission in Damascus. “Apparently, Israel wants to create a reason for the US to get involved in this war. And in order to create this reason, it has been provoking both Iran and Hezbollah. In this situation, the Iranian leadership is behaving extremely responsibly,” Lavrov stated. He called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, asserting that “the bloodshed must be stopped.”

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When questioned about Israel’s commitment to implementing United Nations Security Council resolutions, Lavrov expressed skepticism, stating, “I do not see Israel’s desire to carry out any peace plans.” He pledged that Russia would continue to work towards preventing the Middle Eastern conflict from spreading further.

Lavrov also drew parallels between Israeli actions and the situation in Ukraine, suggesting that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is similarly provoking NATO’s involvement in the conflict with Russia. This reflection came during discussions on the inaugural meeting of the “Friends of Peace” initiative, aimed at resolving the Russian-Ukrainian war, which Russia is closely monitoring.

He questioned the participation of France and Switzerland in the peace talks, arguing that these nations cannot claim neutrality and thus cannot contribute to a balanced resolution. Lavrov reiterated Russia’s support for peace initiatives while criticizing Ukraine for maintaining laws that prohibit negotiations with Russia.

In response to remarks made by the Georgian government regarding the former President Mikheil Saakashvili and the conflicts with South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Lavrov noted that the current Georgian leadership is correctly assessing the historical context. He emphasized that Russia stands ready to aid Tbilisi in reconciling with its neighbors.

On the subject of nuclear policy, Lavrov conveyed that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposals for revising the nation’s nuclear doctrine have been acknowledged. He clarified that Russia has no intentions of increasing its nuclear arsenal, reassuring that the country remains committed to stability amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.