The US State Department described the decision by Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Montenegro to close their airspace to the airplane of Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as “sovereign decisions regarding the airspace of these three sovereign countries”.

• Russian FM Lavrov cancels visit to Serbia after Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Montenegro close airspace to his airplane

State Department spokesperson Ned Price stated that the decision of the three countries “reflects Europe’s commitment to hold Russia accountable for its unprovoked, for its unjustified aggression in Ukraine”.

On 6 June, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov was supposed to arrive in Belgrade for a visit, but his airplane was not allowed to fly over the airspace of the three countries and his visit was cancelled.

• Bulgaria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms that Bulgaria has closed its airspace to Russia’s Foreign Minister Lavrov

Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia stormed out of a UN Security Council meeting as European Council President Charles Michel addressed the 15-member body and accused Moscow of fueling a global food crisis with its invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reports. Charles Michel also accused Russian troops of war crimes and crimes against humanity, citing reports of sexual violence describing it as “a tactic of torture, terror and repression.” As Nebenzya was leaving, Charles Michel turned to him with the words: “You may leave the room, maybe it's easier not to listen to the truth.”