Russia accuses Europe of blocking Ukraine peace talks as Trump calls on Zelenskyy to “settle with Putin”

Updated on: September 26, 2026 / 5:00 PM EDT / CBS/AFP

Russia's foreign minister used his address at the United Nations General Assembly to accuse Europe of blocking efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.

Both Moscow and Kyiv have stepped up attacks after the deadliest summer since 2022 — the year Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. On Saturday, Russian attacks killed four people across Ukraine, officials said, while Kyiv continued to target Russian oil refineries and industrial sites with long-range drones.

Efforts led by the U.S. have failed to produce a permanent ceasefire and peace deal, with President Trump saying on Saturday that he hoped Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would "settle" with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Europe of actively trying to block talks supported by the U.S. government.

"Europe is doing everything it can to thwart peace talks in which the Trump administration is interested," Lavrov said in a fiery speech to the U.N. General Assembly.

"The aims of the special military operation will be achieved, the threat to Russian security will be eliminated and peaceful life will come back. This will happen no matter the circumstances," he added, using Moscow's…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/