In an escalating war of words, Washington has rejected Moscow’s call to address the “root causes” of the Ukraine conflict. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller dismissed Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s plea, claiming Moscow’s fear of a “functioning democracy” in Kiev is illegitimate. Lavrov, speaking at the UN Security Council, justified Russia’s military actions as a response to perceived threats from the US and its allies.
Miller countered by stating that no European country poses a military threat to Russia and criticized Russia’s view that a democracy on its borders is a threat. He emphasized the rejection of this notion by the US. The discussion around a “functioning democracy” has been central to the conflict, with US-backed actions in Ukraine leading to ongoing tensions.
Moscow has proposed comprehensive security measures, rejected by the US and NATO, prompting Russia to consider military and technical measures. The deadlock persists, with President Putin demanding Ukrainian withdrawal from disputed regions and a commitment to never join NATO as preconditions for ceasefire talks.