Russian FM seeks allies against Western sanctions.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called for countries to unite against Western "blackmail" during his tour of Latin America, citing the need for a "multipolar world" not dominated by the US and its allies. Lavrov discussed the Ukraine conflict and emphasized the importance of the UN Charter and the right to self-determination. Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua, all led by socialist-leaning governments, are choosing their own path and have had fraught relations with the US over the years. Russia has helped Venezuela circumvent sanctions imposed by the US and other Western powers.