New York, 23 September 2022 (dpa/MIA) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused the West of directly interfering in the war in Ukraine as governments have supported Kiev with weapons. He described as cynical the position of "states that are pumping Ukraine full of weapons and training their soldiers" that he said were trying to "drag out the fighting as long as possible in spite of the victims and destruction in order to wear down and weaken Russia." He said that "this policy means the direct involvement of the West in the conflict and makes them a party to the conflict," in a speech to a UN Security Council meeting in New York. Lavrov then left the room immediately after his speech. Observers noted he had arrived almost 90 minutes late for the meeting.