Kallas Says Lavrov's Mockery Shows Russia Not Interested in Ukraine Peace

September 28, 2026 at 05:31 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on September 28 that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's treatment of German counterpart Johann Wadephul after their UN meeting shows Russia is not interested in peace in Ukraine. The September 26 meeting was the first between German and Russian foreign ministers since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. Lavrov mocked the meeting and rejected Germany's calls to cease attacks on Ukraine, insisting the fighting 'will continue through to the end.'

Key Facts

Kaja Kallas said Lavrov's mockery of Johann Wadephul after their September 26 UN meeting shows Russia is not interested in peace in Ukraine.
Lavrov said the fighting in Ukraine 'will continue through to the end' and accused Germany of trying to be a leading military power in Europe again.
Lavrov said a direct war between Europe and Russia would be 'completely different' and 'short', according to Cumhuriyet.
Lavrov accused Germany of trying to establish a 'Fourth Reich' in Europe, referencing its rising defense spending and rearmament role.
Lavrov said Moscow would veto any German attempt to gain a permanent seat on a potentially expanded UN Security Council.

Kallas's Assessment

Kaja Kallas said Lavrov's treatment of Wadephul after their September 26 meeting demonstrates Russia is not interested in peace in Ukraine. She noted that during the meeting Wadephul raised the need to de-escalate the war in Ukraine and hybrid attacks in Europe. Kallas said Lavrov's mockery shows that 'Russia really is not interested in peace at all, otherwise you don't treat your meeting partner this way.'

Lavrov's Statements

Lavrov rejected Germany's calls to cease attacks on Ukraine, saying the fighting 'will continue through to the end.' He accused Berlin of being Ukraine's main backer and trying to be a leading military power in Europe again. Lavrov said a direct war between Europe and Russia would be 'completely different' and 'short', without explicitly threatening nuclear weapons. He also accused Germany of trying to establish a 'Fourth Reich' in Europe, citing its defense spending and rearmament role. Lavrov said Moscow would veto any German attempt to gain a permanent seat on a potentially expanded UN Security Council.