United Nations (AP) — A week before the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin’s ambassador to the United Nations claimed that the West is driven by a determination to destroy Russia, declaring: To protect our identity and future. ”
Western ambassadors have called the conflict between Ukraine and Russia-backed separatists that began in 2014 to justify what France’s UN Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere called “unjust”. He accused Russia of using the Security Council, based on lessons learned from the failure to resolve it. – Invasion of Russia’s small neighbor on February 24, 2022.
Friday’s meeting at the council, the only international forum in which Russia regularly faces Ukraine and its Western allies, will see tens of thousands of victims as the conflict enters its second year with no end in sight. put a spotlight on the deep chasm between the warring parties as it emerges on both sides, and new military offensives are to be expected.
Russia’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzia, has said that Western countries, including France and Germany, are seeking to end the conflict between Ukraine and the separatists in the predominantly Russian-speaking industrial areas of Luhansk and Donetsk. accused it of “holding back” from implementing the Minsk accords brokered by Following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in April 2014,
“You were well aware that the Minsk process was just a smoke screen to rearm the Kiev regime and prepare for war with Russia in the name of geopolitical interests,” said Nebenzia.
US Deputy Ambassador Richard Mills accused Russia of not fulfilling its “single promise” of the Minsk Accords, but other signatories – France, Germany, Ukraine and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – have “shown good faith.” I tried to take it and fulfill it.”
French Prime Minister Riviere said France and Germany had made “unrelenting efforts” to facilitate dialogue between the parties since 2015. “The difficulties faced in implementing these agreements are in no way a situation that justifies or mitigates Russia’s choice to end the dialogue with violence,” he stressed.
De Riviere notes that just one year ago, on February 17, 2022, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin reiterated at the Security Council that the Minsk Agreements were the “only international legal basis” for settling the Ukraine dispute. I remember checking. Military intervention was groundless and rooted in Western paranoia. Four days later, Russia recognized the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk and invaded Ukraine on 24 February.
“The only lesson to be learned here is that Russia unilaterally chose to end dialogue and negotiations by attacking Ukraine,” de Riviere said. “It was a unilateral decision to shatter the Minsk deal. Its main objective was to reintegrate parts of Donetsk and Luhansk under full Ukrainian sovereignty in exchange for extensive decentralization. was.”
British Ambassador to the United Nations Barbara Woodward also cited Vershinin’s statement to the Council a week before President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion, saying that Russia’s allegations of aggression were unfounded, saying Britain He said he had learned some lessons.
“Russia lied when we warned it intended to attack Ukraine,” she said. “While we demand diplomacy and detente, Russia plans war. While the world demands just peace, Russia continues to choose death and destruction.”
Russia’s Neventsia has accused the Ukrainian leadership of “criminal policies fueled by Western groups” for its refusal to implement the Minsk Accords.
After a year of war, he told Western members of the Security Council, “Obviously we will not be able to live in the future as we have in the past.”
Nebenzia accused the West of being “deeply Russophobic” and “determined to destroy our country, using others if possible.” And he claimed he had no interest in “building a European and Euro-Atlantic security system together with Russia.”
“We have left you no confidence and cannot believe your promises. Be it the non-expansion of NATO in the East, or your desire not to interfere in our internal affairs, or It’s not about your determination to live in. Peace,” said Nevenzia.
“You have shown that it is impossible to negotiate with you,” he said.
Ukrainian Ambassador to the United Nations Sergiy Kislitsa accused Russia of violating the Minsk agreements and noted that the Minsk Memorandum of September 19, 2014 ordered all troops, militias and mercenaries to withdraw from Ukraine. I gave an example, but this was never implemented.
“The truth is that it has utterly proven the impossibility of negotiating with Putin,” he said. It shows clearly.”
Ukraine “forces Putin to carry out the demands of the UN General Assembly to restore their sanity, immediately cease the use of force and withdraw Russian forces from Ukraine, if there is a healthy military in Russia.” Kislizia said she is asking. “Dictators should give up and retreat into the past.”