Lavrov’s UN General Assembly Meetings Cover Ukraine, Iran and Pacific Cooperation

Dragon Media News Desk

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a series of meetings with foreign leaders and ministers in New York during the high-level week of the 81st United Nations General Assembly. Meetings reported on September 23 and 24 included representatives of the United States, Syria, Iran, Serbia, the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland, as well as a group of Pacific small island developing states.

Lavrov met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on September 23. Their talks kept a senior diplomatic channel open as the two countries addressed the war in Ukraine and bilateral relations. No ceasefire or peace agreement was announced.

Lavrov also met Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani on September 23. The meeting confirmed continued contact between the two governments, but the publicly available account did not establish that they had reached a new agreement.

In talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on September 24, Lavrov discussed developments concerning Iran and other regional and international issues. According to Russia’s Foreign Ministry, both ministers called for a diplomatic settlement. They also reviewed the implementation of agreements reached by their presidents in Bishkek on September 1 and the schedule of future bilateral contacts. No new agreement was announced.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić met Lavrov to discuss bilateral relations, including energy cooperation. Vučić expressed hope that the two countries would sign a new gas agreement soon. The agreement was not signed at their New York meeting, according to the information made public. Lavrov also met Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, although sufficient detail on the outcome of that meeting was not available.

The UAE Foreign Ministry confirmed a separate meeting between Lavrov and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister. Its account listed international security, economic cooperation, technology and climate among topics covered in a wider series of meetings that day. It did not identify which of those subjects were discussed specifically with Lavrov.

Lavrov also held the 13th meeting in a dialogue format with senior representatives of Pacific small island developing states. Russia’s Foreign Ministry said they discussed international and regional challenges and opportunities for cooperation on climate issues, fisheries, shipping and education. The participants reaffirmed their intention to expand cooperation, but announced no new project or funding commitment.

Taken together, the publicly reported meetings show active diplomatic engagement and discussion of future cooperation. They do not establish that a Ukraine ceasefire, a Serbian gas agreement or another major new accord was concluded during these talks.