![Uncredited In this photo released by Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Burkina Faso Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré smile posing for a photo during their meeting in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Tuesday, June 4, 2024. Moscow pledged more support to Burkina Faso in fighting extremist military groups, as the Russian foreign minister continues his whirlwind tour of West Africa in an attempt to fill in the vacuum left by the region's traditional Western partners. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/91ad8836c2e245b49203bbd620dfd17b/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
In this photo released by Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Burkina Faso Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré smile posing for a photo during their meeting in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Tuesday, June 4, 2024. Moscow pledged more support to Burkina Faso in fighting extremist military groups, as the Russian foreign minister continues his whirlwind tour of West Africa in an attempt to fill in the vacuum left by the region's traditional Western partners. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP)
![Uncredited FILE - In this photo released by Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, and Guinea's foreign minister Morissanda Kouyate shake hands near a portrait of Guinea's President Mamadi Doumbouya during their meeting in Conakry, Guinea, on June 3, 2024. Lavrov went on a tour of the Sub-Saharan region of the Sahel this week, as Moscow seeks to grow its influence in the restive, mineral-rich region of Africa. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP, File)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/dec656e80aa74f2f92ded9e8086e3990/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
FILE - In this photo released by Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, and Guinea's foreign minister Morissanda Kouyate shake hands near a portrait of Guinea's President Mamadi Doumbouya during their meeting in Conakry, Guinea, on June 3, 2024. Lavrov went on a tour of the Sub-Saharan region of the Sahel this week, as Moscow seeks to grow its influence in the restive, mineral-rich region of Africa. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP, File)
![Uncredited In this photo released by Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks during the talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Burkina Faso Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré in Oyo, Congo, Tuesday, June 4, 2024. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/9b8ed91173034a5da88d63b8e48667b9/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
In this photo released by Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks during the talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Burkina Faso Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré in Oyo, Congo, Tuesday, June 4, 2024. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP)
![Uncredited In this photo released by Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Burkina Faso Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré smile posing for a photo during their meeting in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Tuesday, June 4, 2024. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/e215bc5992bc4fd7a183d3d259c417cb/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
In this photo released by Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Burkina Faso Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré smile posing for a photo during their meeting in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Tuesday, June 4, 2024. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP)
![Uncredited In this photo released by Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, and Republic of Congo's President Denis Sassou N'Guesso shake hands during their meeting in Oyo, Republic of Congo, Tuesday, June 4, 2024. Any French military instructors in Ukraine would be a "legitimate target" for Russian armed forces, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday as he continued his latest tour of Africa, where frustration with the West has swayed several countries toward Moscow. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/715ad9e19665427e895695898f248402/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
In this photo released by Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, and Republic of Congo's President Denis Sassou N'Guesso shake hands during their meeting in Oyo, Republic of Congo, Tuesday, June 4, 2024. Any French military instructors in Ukraine would be a "legitimate target" for Russian armed forces, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday as he continued his latest tour of Africa, where frustration with the West has swayed several countries toward Moscow. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP)
![Uncredited In this photo released by Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, and Congo's Foreign Minister Jean Claude Gakosso shake hands after a joint news conference in Oyo, Congo, Tuesday, June 4, 2024. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/b19000d3690246faba95853dbfb31895/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
In this photo released by Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, and Congo's Foreign Minister Jean Claude Gakosso shake hands after a joint news conference in Oyo, Congo, Tuesday, June 4, 2024. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP)
![Uncredited FILE - This undated photograph handed out by French military shows Russian mercenaries boarding a helicopter in northern Mali. Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov went on a tour of the Sub-Saharan region of the Sahel this week, as Moscow seeks to grow its influence in the restive, mineral-rich region of Africa. (French Army via AP, File)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/f0b811002e294d7396095ee9b4bde823/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
FILE - This undated photograph handed out by French military shows Russian mercenaries boarding a helicopter in northern Mali. Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov went on a tour of the Sub-Saharan region of the Sahel this week, as Moscow seeks to grow its influence in the restive, mineral-rich region of Africa. (French Army via AP, File)
![Uncredited In this photo released by Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attends a meeting with Republic of Congo's President Denis Sassou N'Guesso in Oyo, Republic of Congo, Tuesday, June 4, 2024. Any French military instructors in Ukraine would be a "legitimate target" for Russian armed forces, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday as he continued his latest tour of Africa, where frustration with the West has swayed several countries toward Moscow. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/71629058a2eb4b37b93a6c8fa64ceaa7/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
In this photo released by Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attends a meeting with Republic of Congo's President Denis Sassou N'Guesso in Oyo, Republic of Congo, Tuesday, June 4, 2024. Any French military instructors in Ukraine would be a "legitimate target" for Russian armed forces, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday as he continued his latest tour of Africa, where frustration with the West has swayed several countries toward Moscow. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP)
![Uncredited In this photo released by Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Republic of Congo's President Denis Sassou N'Guesso attends a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Oyo, Republic of Congo, Tuesday, June 4, 2024. Any French military instructors in Ukraine would be a "legitimate target" for Russian armed forces, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday as he continued his latest tour of Africa, where frustration with the West has swayed several countries toward Moscow. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/b2b2d0d380474f9fbf04e904687972be/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
In this photo released by Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Republic of Congo's President Denis Sassou N'Guesso attends a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Oyo, Republic of Congo, Tuesday, June 4, 2024. Any French military instructors in Ukraine would be a "legitimate target" for Russian armed forces, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday as he continued his latest tour of Africa, where frustration with the West has swayed several countries toward Moscow. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP)