Blinken and Lavrov clash on Ukraine at security meeting in Malta

Sergey Lavrov gestures during a plenary session of the 31st OSCE ministerial summit Picture: Alberto Pizzoli/Pool/AP

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov clashed on Thursday indirectly with US secretary of state Antony Blinken at an annual security meeting, accusing the West of risking escalation over Ukraine, but walked out before Mr Blinken and other speakers could respond.

Speaking at the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe ministerial meeting in Malta, Mr Lavrov accused the West of reviving the Cold War and provoking a direct conflict with Russia.