Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s diplomatic activity during the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York in September 2026 extended far beyond his headline meetings with the United States and Germany. According to Lavrov, the Russian delegation completed “practically fifty” meetings and engagements during the week, involving countries and institutions across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, Europe and the Pacific. Taken together, the schedule provides a picture of Russian foreign policy increasingly organised around diversified political relationships, economic connectivity and institutional cooperation rather than dependence on any single Western relationship.

Eurasian Charter of Diversity and Multipolarity is intended to address security, economic cooperation, connectivity, humanitarian relations and decision-making among Eurasian states.

Eurasian Charter of Diversity and Multipolarity is intended to address security, economic cooperation, connectivity, humanitarian relations and decision-making among Eurasian states.

The week began with meetings involving UN General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Cuba, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Trinidad and Tobago, Algeria, Brazil, the UAE, Switzerland, the OSCE and the CSTO. The meeting with Rubio demonstrated that Moscow continues to maintain a direct channel with Washington despite continuing disagreements over Ukraine and US economic restrictions on Russia. Discussions reportedly covered bilateral relations, the Middle East, the South Caucasus, Latin America, multilateral institutions, economic cooperation, humanitarian contacts and diplomatic issues. The relationship therefore combines continued political communication with unresolved economic and geopolitical tensions.

Other first-day meetings demonstrated the geographical breadth of Russia’s diplomacy. Contacts with Cuba, Brazil, Algeria, Egypt and the UAE connected Moscow to Latin America, Africa, the Arab world and major commercial hubs. Brazil was particularly relevant to BRICS coordination and economic issues such as agriculture, energy, fertilisers and finance. The........

© Daily Times