We support the unwavering adherence to the principle of equality as it guarantees that all countries can take their rightful place in the world system regardless of their military power, population, territory, or economic capabilities.

From the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation

27 September 2025 20:57

Remarks by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the General Debate of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, New York, September 27, 2025

1611-27-09-2025

Madam President,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Eighty years ago, the most devastating war in human history came to an end, with more than 70 million lives lost to military operations, starvation, and disease. The year 1945 changed the course of world history forever. The triumph over German Nazism, under whose banners a great part of Europe had rallied, and Japanese militarism, paved the way for peace, recovery, and prosperity.

This year, Moscow and Beijing held celebrations to mark the festive days of May 9 and September 3 in honour of Victory in the Great Patriotic War and World War II. The world witnessed grand military parades in recognition of the Soviet people’s decisive contribution to the defeat of Nazi Germany and the distinct role of the Chinese people in the defeat of militarist Japan. We hold sacred the memory of our combat fellowship with all the allies who stood on the side of truth in the fight against evil forces.

One of the enduring outcomes of that war was the establishment of the United Nations. The principles of this Organisation’s Charter agreed upon by its founding fathers continue to serve as a beacon of international cooperation. They embody the centuries-old experience of co-existence among the states and retain their full relevance in the era of multipolarity. The only remaining task is for all member states without exception to adhere to these principles in their entirety, totality and interconnectedness.

However, the reality is quite different. Systemic and callous violations of the principle of the sovereign equality of states undermine the very faith in justice and lead to crises and conflicts. The root cause of these problems lies in the incessant attempts to divide the world into “friends” and “foes,” into “democracies” and “autocracies,” into a “blooming garden” and a “jungle,” into those who are “at the table” and those who are “on the menu,” into a select few who are above the rules, and the rest, who are somehow obliged to serve the interests of the “golden billion.” We support the unwavering adherence to the principle of equality as it guarantees that all countries can take their rightful place in the world system regardless of their military power, population, territory, or economic capabilities.

Furthermore, the West has repeatedly violated the principle of the non-use of force or threat of force. NATO’s bombing of Yugoslavia, the invasion of Iraq by a US-led coalition and NATO’s regime-change operation in Libya have all brought about tragedies. Today, Israel’s unlawful use of force against the Palestinians, along with aggressive actions targeting Iran, Qatar, Yemen, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq, threaten to trigger explosive developments across the entire Middle East.