Russia's Lavrov doesn't reject UN bid to revive Black Sea deal, but says unrealistic

FILE PHOTO: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov smiles as he arrives to hold a news conference at United Nations headquarters in New York City, New York, U.S., April 25, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday portrayed the United States and Europe as "looking down" on the rest of the world amid a battle to win over developing countries, and said that while Moscow does not reject U.N. efforts to revive a Black Sea grain deal, a recent proposal was unrealistic.

Lavrov spoke after a week of intense global diplomacy at the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations, where Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy - attending in person - and Western allies sought to shore up support for Kyiv. Lavrov said he met with more than 30 countries during the week.