Lavrov calls top U.S., EU diplomats ‘cowards’

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov lashed out at his U.S. and EU counterparts on Friday, calling them “cowards” for leaving early from the annual meeting of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

Both U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell had already left, Lavrov said at a press conference on the results of the two-day meeting in Skopje.

“Why is that? Well, they probably believe that they are reinforcing their intention to isolate Russia. But I think they are just cowards, they are afraid of any honest dialogue involving facts.’’

Blinken and Borrell had travelled to Skopje this week at the invitation of their North Macedonian hosts. However, Blinken then had to leave for Israel, where tensions are extremely high due to the war in Gaza.

More than 21 months after the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine, Russian representatives often use public appearances to blame the West for the complete breakdown in relations, accusing it of an alleged unwillingness to engage in dialogue.