Russian foreign minister in blistering attack on West and Nato

Sergei Lavrov says western states are unable to change their Cold War "genetic code" and the US must abandon its claims to "eternal uniqueness".

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov addresses the 69th United Nations General Assembly in New York on Saturday. Eduardo Munoz / Reuters

UNITED NATIONS // the Russian foreign minister issued a blistering attack on the West and Nato, accusing them of being unable to change their Cold War “genetic code” and saying the United States must abandon its claims to “eternal uniqueness”.

Sergey Lavrov said at the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday that the crisis in Ukraine was the result of a coup d’etat in that country supported by the United States and the European Union. He made no mention of Western allegations that Russia has sent troops and heavy weapons into eastern Ukraine in support of pro-Russian rebels who have taken over a number of cities.

Lavrov also says the Russian annexation of Crimea earlier this year was, in fact, the choice of the largely Russian-speaking population there.

* Associated Press