Lavrov urges UN leadership impartiality, backs Brazil and India for Security Council seats

Lavrov said the upcoming election of a new UN Secretary-General should produce a leader who will "meticulously uphold" the mandate of the office and maintain impartiality and equidistance. He warned against Security Council reform that would add permanent seats for Western countries "especially to Germany and Japan" and said Russia supports permanent seats for Brazil and India and greater representation for Africa.

He framed these proposals as defending the intergovernmental nature of the UN and preserving Security Council prerogatives for its permanent members while broadening representation to reflect Asia, Africa and Latin America.