Overview

• Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made the allegation at a G20 foreign ministers meeting, according to state-run TASS.
• Lavrov framed the Ukraine conflict as a crisis provoked by the collective West and claimed NATO and the EU are directly involved.
• British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper dismissed the remarks, calling Russia’s invasion an unprovoked war of aggression.
• EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged stronger international pressure on Moscow as Russian forces continue to hold roughly one-fifth of Ukraine’s territory.
• The comments followed President Donald Trump’s recent calls for NATO to shoot down Russian aircraft violating alliance airspace and statements that Ukraine could regain occupied land, which drew close scrutiny in Europe.