British foreign secretary accuses Putin of leading a 'mafia state'

The highest-ranking British diplomat directly accused Vladimir Putin of leading a "mafia state" and, in a sharp speech before the UN Security Council, compared him to a slave owner.

David Lammy, the UK Foreign Secretary, struck out at the Russian president during a UN summit meeting in New York, saying: "We know who you are."

He likened Vladimir Putin's behaviour during the invasion of Ukraine to slavery and accused the Russian government of attempting to expand.

- This invasion is in your own interest. You want to expand your mafia state into a mafia empire. An empire built on corruption - Lammy thundered.

He added that he speaks "not just as a Briton, Londoner, and Foreign Secretary."

- I stand here also as a Black man, whose ancestors were taken in chains from Africa, at gunpoint, (...) whose ancestors rose up and fought in a great slave rebellion - he said.

He added that Russia wants to turn the world back to the times of imperialism.

"Politico" notes that Lammy's speech "comes as Ukraine continues intense lobbying for approval to use Western long-range missiles - including British Storm Shadows - against targets deep in Russia. Currently, they can only be deployed within Ukraine. The UK supports their use, but support from the USA is required.

In a conversation with reporters - travelling to New York - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer made it clear that long-range missiles would be a subject of discussion during the world leaders’ meeting.

The portal reminds that Volodymyr Zelensky will meet with Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in Washington on Thursday (00:00 GMT) to present his "victory plan" aimed at defeating Putin.