Russia’s foreign minister snubbed David Lammy as the Foreign Secretary denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at a major summit.
Sergey Lavrov walked out of the G20 meeting in South Africa just before Mr Lammy began his speech.
It is the latest brush-off he has given the Labour minister. Last year he sat looking at his mobile phone while Mr Lammy attacked Russia in an address to the United Nations in New York.
Mr Lammy said in his speech: ‘In Ukraine, the only just and lasting peace will be a peace that is consistent with the UN Charter, and we want that as soon as possible.
‘You know, mature countries learn from their colonial failures and their wars, and Europeans have had much to learn over the generations and the centuries. But I’m afraid to say that Russia has learned nothing.
‘I listened carefully to Minister Lavrov’s intervention just now – he’s, of course, left his seat – hoping to hear some readiness to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty. I was hoping to hear some sympathy for the innocent victims of the aggression. I was hoping to hear some readiness to seek a durable peace.
Russia’s foreign minister snubbed David Lammy (pictured) as the Foreign Secretary denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at a major summit.
Sergey Lavrov (pictured) walked out of the G20 meeting in South Africa just before Mr Lammy began his speech
‘What I heard was the logic of imperialism dressed up as a realpolitik, and I say to you all, we should not be surprised, but neither should we be fooled.’
He said if Putin was serious about peace, he must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and reject ‘Tsarist imperialism’.
Mr Lavrov is seen as one of Putin’s top ‘attack dogs’ and often shows his disdain for Western diplomats. He led the Kremlin team at this week’s meeting on Ukraine with the US in Saudi Arabia.
Later Mr Lammy told a meeting at the G20 that he doubted Russia’s desire for peace. ‘That peace could be achieved by leaving Ukraine tomorrow,’ he said.
