Russian attacks killed four people across Ukraine on Saturday, officials said, as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the United Nations General Assembly that Europe is blocking efforts to resolve the conflict. Both Moscow and Kyiv have stepped up attacks after the deadliest summer since 2022, the year Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, and U.S.-led efforts have failed to produce a permanent ceasefire and peace deal.
Russian strikes kill four in Ukraine as Lavrov tells UN Europe is blocking peace talks
Russian attacks killed four people across Ukraine on Saturday, officials said, as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the United Nations General Assembly that Europe is blocking efforts to resolve the conflict. Both Moscow and Kyiv have stepped up attacks after the deadliest summer since 2022, the year Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, and U.S.-led efforts have failed to produce a permanent ceasefire and peace deal.
Kyiv has continued to target Russian oil refineries and industrial sites with long-range drones, according to the source. Lavrov accused Europe of actively trying to block talks supported by the U.S. government.
In his address, Lavrov said: "The aims of the special military operation will be achieved, the threat to Russian security will be eliminated and peaceful life will come back." He added that this would happen "no matter the circumstances," using Moscow's terminology for the conflict.
Before the speech, Lavrov met German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, the first meeting between Moscow's and Berlin's foreign ministers since before the war. The talks took place as tensions between Berlin and Moscow intensified: Germany accused Russia of orchestrating an attempted drone attack on Leipzig airport, and each country ordered the closure of the other's consulate. European countries, including Germany, have said in the days before the address that Russian sabotage activities on their soil have increased.
President Trump, who met Zelenskyy at the General Assembly on Tuesday, said on Saturday that he hoped the Ukrainian leader would settle with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump said Zelenskyy and Putin were "going along" and that "someday, hopefully in the not-too-distant future, maybe before the heavy winter, they'll make a deal."
Zelenskyy said after the Tuesday meeting that he trusted the White House could help end Russia's invasion of his country. On Saturday, he said Russia is escalating every single day.
- The source does not state Russia's response to Germany's accusation that Moscow orchestrated an attempted drone attack on Leipzig airport.
- The source does not state where in Ukraine the four people were killed or identify them.
- The source does not state the dates of the consulate closures or which consulates were affected.
- The source does not state whether Putin or the Kremlin responded to the remarks by Trump and Zelenskyy.
- The source does not state the casualty figures behind its description of the summer of 2026 as the deadliest since 2022.
- The source does not state what proposals, if any, the U.S.-led talks have put forward or when they last convened.