UN Security Meeting 26 February 2022
A veto against international law
After voting in favour of the resolution, France’s Ambassador, Nicolas de Rivière, said that Russia’s “premediated aggression” is killing civilians and destroying infrastructure with goal of rebuilding the Russian empire.
While other members expressed their commitment to international law, Russia vetoed it.
“Russia is alone,” he observed, adding that “within the UN and in all bodies, France will continue to mobilize with its partners to support Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.”
Russian Strategic 2022 Chessboard
“Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said that he would not respond to those who had accused him of abusing his country’s veto power.”
He accused the draft’s sponsors of “spinning tales” about the true situation in Ukraine, including Western allies’ attempts to cover up the fact that they had been flooding the Donbas with weapons.
“You have made Ukraine a pawn in your own game… this resolution is nothing other than yet another brutal, inhumane move on this Ukrainian chessboard,” he said.
“Indeed, the situation is being exploited by political and media outlets, he said, citing examples of the “height of propaganda”, including the misuse of images from Donbas to portray what was being referred to as Russian aggression.”
Speaking to the representatives of France, the UK and US, he said that there was no verifiable confirmation about the death of Ukrainian civilians; that photographs of supposed Russian artillery “is fake”; and that reports of attacks on civilian infrastructure were untrue.
Moreover, with its history of aggressions against other countries, the United States was “in no position to moralize.”
Diabolical Script A seat in Hell
Ukraine Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya asserted that he would not dignify the “diabolical script” read by the Russian Ambassador, which was in fact “a rather detailed application for… a seat in Hell.”
He recalled that during the Security Council’s discussions on the situation in Ukraine earlier in the week, Russia had begun bombing his country and sending forces across the border, including through Belarus.
Therefore, he was not surprised that Russia voted against the text, he said, denouncing the actions of “the Kremlin regime.”
Russian President Has Unhinged Himself From Moral Responsibility
Mr. Kyslytsya asked the Council to remember how many times the Russian Ambassador said that his country would not invade or bomb Ukraine. But after what had happened in recent days,
“how can we trust you? You have no idea what is in the mind of your President,” he declared.
The Ukraine Ambassador also noted that according to the rules of procedure, the Russian Ambassador should not have been presiding over a meeting of which his country was the subject.
Silent Moment for Peace
The Ukraine Ambassador asked the Council to dedicate a moment of silence “for peace… and to pray for the souls of those that have already been or may be killed”, inviting the Russian Ambassador to “pray for salvation.”
This was followed by solemn applause throughout the Chamber.
Noting that nothing could justify the bombing of hospitals and kindergartens –considered war crimes under the Rome Statute – he said that Ukraine was collecting evidence to send forward to the International Criminal Court (ICC)
A ‘Principled Stand’
Introducing the draft resolution, which her country had helped craft, US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield painted a picture of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that was “so bold, so brazen,” that it threatens the international system “as we know it.”
“We have a solemn responsibility not to look away,” she said stressing that Russia must be held accountable, and its forces immediately, completely and unconditionally withdrawn.
“Today we are taking a principled stand in this Council,” “Ms. Thomas-Greenfield said. “There is no middle ground,” responsible States do not invade their neighbours.”
Russian Ambassador Can’t Veto Accountability
After the text was defeated, Ms. Thomas-Greenfield took the floor again.
“You can veto this resolution, but you cannot veto our voices; You cannot veto the truth; You cannot veto our principles; You cannot veto the Ukrainian people; cannot veto the UN Charter…and you will not veto accountability,” she underscored.
“The US Ambassador said that despite the actions of a “reckless, irresponsible” Member State, the United States will continue to stand with Ukraine against Russia’s aggression.”
Source: https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/02/1112802https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/02/1112802