Refinitiv Newscasts - UNSC expected to vote on Russia resolution 1

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26/02/2022 02:44

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 >> The 8,979th meeting of the Security Council is called to order. The
provisional agenda for the meeting of today is letter from the permanent
representative of Ukraine to the United Nations dated 28th February 2014
addressed to the president of the Security Council S/2014/136. The agenda is
adopted. On the basis of rule 37 of the provisional rules of procedure for
Security Council I invite the representatives of Australia, Austria, Andorra,
Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Botswana, Hungary, Guatemala, Germany, Greece, Georgia, Denmark, The Dominican
Republic, Iceland, Spain, Italy, Canada, Cyprus, Colombia, Costa Rica, Kuwait,
Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Niger, The
Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Federal
States of Micronesia, The Republic of Moldova, The Republic of Korea, Romania,
Samoa, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago,
Turkey, Ukraine, Fiji, Finland, Montenegro, The Czech Republic, Chile,
Switzerland, Sweden, and Ecuador to participate in today's meeting. It is so
decided. The Security Council now begins its consideration of item 2 of the
agenda. Council members have before them document S2022/155. The text of a
draft resolution submitted by Australia, Austria, Albania, Andorra, Antigua
and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Botswana, Hungary, Guatemala and Germany, Greece, Georgia, Denmark, The
Dominican Republic, Ireland, Iceland, Spain, Italy, Canada, Cyprus, Colombia,
Costa Rica, Kuwait, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg,
Malta, Niger, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,
Poland, Portugal, the Federated States of Micronesia, The Republic of Moldova,
The Republic of Korea, Romania, Samoa, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, The
United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, The United States of America, Timor-Leste,
Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, Fiji, Finland, France, Montenegro, The
Czech Republic, Chile, Switzerland, Sweden, and Ecuador. The Security Council
is ready to undertake a vote on the draft resolution before it. I now give the
floor to those members of the Security Council who wish to deliver statements
before the vote. I give the floor to the representative of the United States.
>> Colleagues. >> We are here today because of Russia's unprovoked,
unjustified, unconscionable war on Ukraine. Let us never forget that this is a
war of choice, Russia's choice. Russia chose to invade its neighbor. Russia
chose to inflict untold suffering on the Ukrainian people and on its own
citizens. Russia chose to violate Ukraine's sovereignty, to violate
international law, to violate the UN Charter. Now, all across Ukraine, people
are fleeing for their lives. Residents of Kyiv and car Kharkiv have left their
homes with only the belongings they could stuff in their backpacks to make
shelter in subway stations which have now become bomb shelters. We've seen
reports of attacks on kindergartens and orphanages. Babies, newborn babies in
an intensive care unit have been evacuated into makeshift bomb shelters too.
We have seen heart-wrenching images of fathers sobbing as they say goodbye to
their young children as they send their families away to safety while they
stay behind to defend their country. In Kyiv today, thousands of people
crushed into a local train station with mother's passing their children over
the crowd, begging for people to help, to get their babies onto trains and to
safety. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, more than 50,000
people have fled Ukraine in less than 48 hours. We've also seen everyday
Russians bravely speak out and demonstrate in cities across Russia against
President Putin's decision to plunge them into a war with their neighbor. They
do not want to sacrifice Russian lives for Putin's ambition. This body,
charged with maintaining international peace and security, was created to
prevent exactly this kind of aggression from ever happening again. Russia's
latest attack on our most fundamental principles is so bold, so brazen that it
threatens our international system as we know it. We have a solemn obligation
to not look away. We believe to our core that the noble intentions of this
institution should still have a place in solving 21st-century problems and
shielding our children and our grandchildren from the horrors of war. The
horrors of war are exactly what our Ukrainian brothers and sisters are
experiencing today. The people of Ukraine will soon need food and water and
shelter and medical aid. They will face displacement and lose everything
they've worked to build. For these reasons, we and Albania, in consultation
with our allies and partners, have proposed this draft resolution holding
Russia to account for its aggression against Ukraine. This resolution condemns
Russia's aggression. It reaffirms the sovereignty, independence, unity, and
territorial integrity of Ukraine. >> And it demands the Russian Federation to
immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw it's forces. It also
calls for the facilitation of rapid safe and unhindered humanitarian
assistance to those in need in Ukraine and the protection of civilians,
including those who are humanitarian personnel. Today we're taking a
principled stand against Russia's aggression in this council. But many of us
are taking actions in our capitals to defend international law, including the
UN Charter, and to impose severe consequences on Russia for its invasion of
Ukraine. In coordination with our allies and partners, we are imposing severe
and immediate economic cost on Russia. These measures includes sweeping
financial sanctions that will have an immediate impact on its economy and
export controls that will cut off Russia's access to vital technological
inputs, atrophy its industrial base, and undercut Russia's strategic ambitions
to exert influence on the world stage. In addition, as was just announced,
President Biden will be sanctioning President Putin himself, along with
Foreign Minister Lavrov and members of Russia's national security team. These
actions are meant to complement the important work we're doing in the Security
Council and the resolution we had put forward today. History will judge us for
our actions or lack thereof. And so long as we have a security council, I
believe we ought to strive to ensure it lives up to the highest purposes to
prevent conflict and avert unnecessary war. Russia has already subverted that
mission. But at the very minimum, the rest of us have an obligation to object
and to stand up for the UN Charter. To those who say all parties are culpable,
I say that is a clear cop out. One country is invading another. Russia is the
aggressor here. There is no middle ground. Any doubters? I say look at the
kindergarten that was bombed this morning. Take a hard look. To those who say
there is a special history between Russia and Ukraine that somehow excuses the
war, I say we should all think carefully who that label might apply to next.
And as I said on Monday night, President Putin asserted that Russia has a
rightful claim to all territories from the Russian Empire. And just a few
hours ago, Russia threatened Finland and Sweden with military and political
repercussions. Responsible member states do not invade their neighbors. They
do not commit violence against their neighbors just because they have the
ability to do so. That is the entire purpose of our international system. That
is fundamentally the point of the Security Council and the United Nations. >>
Colleagues, this is a simple vote today. Let me put it plainly. Vote yes if
you believe in upholding the UN Charter. Vote yes if you support Ukraine's or
any state's right to sovereignty and territorial integrity. Vote yes if you
believe Russia should be held to account for its actions. Vote no or abstain
if you do not uphold the charter and align yourselves with the aggressive and
unprovoked actions of Russia. Just as Russia had a choice, so do you. Thank
you. >> Thank you, and I give the floor to the representative of Albania. >>
Let me start by stating that my delegation subscribes to what we just heard
from the ambassador of the United States. Dear colleagues, we are called today
to express clearly and loudly where we, our states, stand individually and
collectively with respect to international law that we have agreed to, with
the principles enshrined in the UN Charter that we have agreed to, with
international norms we have commonly established to govern our relations as
independent and sovereign countries, as peace-loving nations, as responsible
international actors. As we speak, Ukraine is being bombed, people are being
killed, a country in Europe is being destroyed by a more powerful country, its
neighbor, that has decided it wants to turn the historic lock backwards, a
permanent member of the Security Council to whom the world has given power and
trust to decide on peace and security. Instead, that country has decided to
rule and inflict death. With its unprovoked aggression, Russia is not only
inflicting untold pain and causing an unprecedented humanitarian situation in
Europe, it has stained the UN Charter with innocent blood. It is burying the
Charter under the rubble of destruction in Kyiv and other cities in Ukraine.
We must say no, and it's not too late to stop this madness. Dear colleagues,
the resolution that Albania and the United States, together with many
partners, have presented condemns Russia's actions, underscores that Russia
must immediately cease its use of force against Ukraine and withdraw its
forces. It calls upon Russia to abide by the Minsk agreements. It also calls
for facilitation of humanitarian assistance to those in need in Ukraine, and
their number is growing by the hour, and urges continuous efforts to respond
to the humanitarian and refugee crisis that Russia's aggression has created.
The resolution echoes the call of Secretary General addressed publicly to
President Putin, that, "In the name of humanity, bring your troops back to
Russia." It echoes numerous similar calls of the highest level around the
globe to stop war. This is the minimum we can do. We owe it to Ukraine, a
member of the United Nations, to its people, to the world. Dear colleagues,
this is a defining moment for the council, and not only. This is a day that
will be long remembered on one single aspect, and our children, the future
generations, will know who stood up for respect of human life, for
international law, for rules, for solidarity with Ukraine, so that children,
young girls, women, and men, just human beings, live their life free in peace
and in dignity. >> And who did not. This is not a moment to look away. This is
a moment to speak. And we call on the members of the council to support the
text so that we say no to aggression, we say no to an unprovoked war, we say
no to the domination of a country by a more powerful one. I thank you. >>
Thank you. I now give the floor to the representative of the United Kingdom.
>> Thank you. The UN Charter begins with a solemn invocation to peace. We, the
peoples of the United Nations, determined to save successive generations from
the scourge of war. That conviction has been the touchstone of the work in
this chamber since 1945. We must not forget that our fundamental purpose here
is to protect people and their futures. To protect people from violence and
conflict that destroys lives. As we speak, women and children in Kiev, young
families in Odessa, pensioners in Kharkiv, and civilians all over Ukraine are
sheltering from Russia's military onslaught. First, Russia claimed this was
all Western hysteria, then they said it was about Donetsk and Luhansk. Now
they are bombing Kiev. We have seen dreadful images of Russian tanks crushing
civilians in the Ukrainian capital. A country of 44 million people is being
attacked on all fronts. Colleagues, the resolution we're voting on today is a
message to those people that the world is on your side and stands with the
Ukrainian people. It's a message to the world that the rules we built together
must be defended because otherwise, who might be next? It's a message to
Russia as well, to the brave Russian citizens who are protesting a war they do
not want. This resolution demands an end to this war. Colleagues, President
Putin has launched a massive invasion of Ukraine. His aim is to remove its
government and subjugate its people. No fog of war is thick enough to obscure
a truth this clear. This is not self-defense under Article 51, it is naked
aggression. It is an unprovoked, unjustified war and this council must condemn
it. Thank you. >> Thank you. I will now give the floor to the representative
of Gabon. Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, the Security Council today
finds itself face-to-face with its responsibility, and it's a capacity to
reaffirm the co-principles which undergird its very existence. The United
Nations was created on the ashes of a brutal war, the main aim of which is to
prevent any other deadly act of belligerence. Today, at the time when a number
nations and peoples throughout the world continue to attempt to heal the scars
of far away wars as humanity seeks concrete responses from their ability and
the manifold fragilities which threatened it, we need neither wars nor any new
sources of fear. War is the very denial of the aspirations of safety
throughout the world. War reeks deaths and destruction. The devastation of war
and the traumas of war are devastating and freakily irreparable. There is no
winner ever in war. War merely revives the pain. >> And making the hellish
cycles of resentment all the more infernal. My country is wedded to peace. We
are wedded to the principles underpinning the Charter of the United Nations.
We champion an international order that is fair, a rules-based order. For this
reason, today we condemn the war against a member of the United Nations. My
country joins its voice to all of those who today will condemn war. With the
ardent hope that we will reaffirm the principles of the United Nation, and
that this will never be carried out in different ways in different areas and
the principles are here to make our position are equally upheld for all.
Distinguished colleagues, the international community is called upon to cease
this momentum for franks of criticism so as to ensure that throughout the
world, any of a war on choice, any war with any one, any war patrimony, any
war for looting over of resources, all wars are dehumanizing. The
international stage should not be reflection of a jungle where nations are
either predators or prey. Mr. President, to conclude, we wish to reiterate our
call for an immediate cease-fire for de-escalation. We besiege the
belligerents not to hinder access of humanitarian assistance to those people
who are in need. I call upon all parties to vitalize dialogue to embrace a
peaceful settlement to their disputes. As for us distinguished colleagues,
members of the security council, the responsibilities which we need to assume
today should always be reflected to defense reaffirmation and the renewal of
our commitments, that is to say, succeeding and present generations from the
scourge of war. Thank you Mr. President. >> Thank you. I now [inaudible
01:52:33] to the representative of Mexico. >> Thank you very much President.
Mexico will vote in favor of the draft resolution presented by Albania and the
United States. And we will do so for the following reasons. First, we're
witnessing one country's invasion of a sovereign country. This is a latent
violation of Article 2 paragraph 4, of the United Nations Charter, and it is
also an aggression under the terms of General Assembly resolution 3314 which
was adopted by all members of the United Nations. Secondly, Mexico has itself
suffered for invasions over the course of it's history as an independent
state, to by France, and to by the United States. The first intervention by
the United States in 1846 led to the lost of almost half of our national
territory at that time. Thirdly, Mexico, has always condemned all acts of
aggression, as it made clear with it's protest at the League of Nations, at
the annexation of Ethiopia and Albania by Italy and the annexation of Austria
by Germany. Fourthly, rejection of the use of force, led us in 1945 to convene
the Inter-American Conference on the problems of peace and war in Mexico. >>
Which then lead on are to going to the San Francisco conference, with a
clearly defined regional position on this matter. Five, Mexico's Foreign
Policy is in favor of peace. Since the UN was established my country has
defended and will defend before this organization and indeed in full
[inaudible 01:55:00] the prohibition of a threat or use of force in
international relations. Six, in 1988, we signed into our constitution the
principles of The United Nations charter as normative principles of our
foreign policy. As a result of all of the above, Mexico condemns the acts of
aggression perpetrated by the Russian Federation against Ukraine. We call on
the parties to immediately seize hostilities. We recognize the sovereignty
political independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine and we support the
efforts of the UN secretary-general to seek a diplomatic solution to spare
civilians any further suffering. President, as a result of our own experience
and through a constitutional mandate Mexico will support the draft resolution
that we are considering. Thank you. >> [inaudible 01:56:14] The representative
of Brazil. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, we live in
unprecedented circumstances of threat to the international order and violation
of the UN Charter. We are gravely concerned with the Russian military
operations against targets in sovereign Ukrainian territory. We believe the
Security Council should strive to show a united resolve in pursuing diplomatic
solutions to all threats to international peace and security and seek
agreement also on the Ukrainian crisis. As we hear reports of increasing
civilian casualties, fear, and devastation in Ukraine. A scenario that any war
inevitably generates. Our main objective now is to immediately stop ongoing
hostilities. How should we do that? First, the Security Council must swiftly
react to the use of force against the territorial integrity of a member state.
A line has been crossed and this council cannot remain silent. Secondly, and
no less important, we need to create the conditions for dialogue among all
involved parties. The world cannot afford a point of no return where parties
see military victory as the only avenue to end conflict. During the
negotiations of the text, Brazil attempted to seek this balance to maintain
the space for dialogue, while still signaling that the use of force against
the territorial integrity of a member state is not acceptable in the world
today. We are also deeply concerned with Russia's decision to engage troops in
military operations on the ground and with the loss of lives and danger to the
civilian population, that means you. We continue to hold the firm conviction
that threats and force will not lead this crisis to a lasting settlement.
Military action will inflict damage, undermine the faith in international law,
and put the lives of millions of people into jeopardy. The mission of the
Security Council is not over. If our efforts have so far failed to prevent a
war, it is our duty to persevere and seek the immediate suspension of
hostilities. We should strive to find ways to restore peace to Ukraine and the
whole region. We renew our appeal for the full cessation of hostilities, for
the withdrawal of troops, and for the immediate resumption of diplomatic
dialogue. There is no alternative to negotiation to solve the present crisis.
>> The security concerns voiced by the Russian Federation in the past few
years, particularly, regarding the strategic balance in Europe, do not give
Russia the right to threaten the territorial integrity and sovereignty of
another state. The Security Council has the legitimacy to debate and, with the
goodwill of all, adopt measures to redress this dangerous situation. The
collective security system of the United Nations rests ultimately on the
pillar of international law. The sovereign equality and the territorial
integrity of UN member states are not hollow words. It is our duty to give
concrete meaning to the highest aspirations of the drafters of the UN Charter.
That is our most valuable legacy to read ourselves from the scourge of war was
the very reason for the establishment of the United Nations. In the end, peace
and international order must prevail. We shall not rest until this mission is
accomplished. I thank you, Mr. President. >> Thank you. And now, we'll put the
draft resolution to the vote. I request that those voting in favor of the
draft resolution contained in document S20, 22, 155 to raise their hands.
Those against. Abstentions. The result of the voting is as follows. Eleven
vote in favor, one vote against, three abstentions. The draft resolution has
not been adopted owing to the negative vote of a permanent member of the
Security Council. I now give the floor to those members of the Security
Council who wish to deliver statements after the voting. I give the floor to
the representative of Albania. >> Dear colleagues, we deeply regret the
decision of the Russian Federation to veto the resolution. The Council lost a
precious opportunity to show to the world its unity, its power, its
usefulness. Instead, it was blocked, it was taken hostage. We are disappointed
but not surprised, and this is not the end of our efforts. We will continue to
work with the UN member states, with those who stand for rules and not kills,
with those who base their relations with others on respect and not contempt.
We'll continue to condemn this aggression, call for ending this senseless war.
Russia may inflict damage, kill people, overthrow a legitimate government, try
to destroy Ukraine, but as history teaches, it will never be able to kill
freedom. Instead, Russia will be held responsible for the consequences of its
actions. It is already facing worldwide condemnation. It will face sanctions
as we heard and restrictions, just like the suspension of its rights in the
Council of Europe today. But it will not be able to destroy European security,
nor will it be able to throw the world back. We stand and we'll stand with
Ukraine. And as announced today by Prime Minister Rama, Albania, in its
tradition, is ready if needed, to shelter Ukrainians fleeing the war. In
conclusion, let me reiterate that Albania supports the sovereignty,
territorial integrity of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized
borders. And I thank you. >> Thank you. I now give the floor to the
representative of the United States. >> Colleagues, not surprisingly, Russia
exercised its veto power today in an effort to protect Russia's premeditated,
unprovoked, unjustified, and unconscionable war in Ukraine. But let me make
one thing clear. Russia, 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. You cannot veto the UN Charter. And you will not
veto accountability. Responsible members of the Security Council had stood
together today in the face of Russia's aggression and we will continue to
stand with Ukraine supporting it in every way we can. We are united behind
Ukraine and its people despite a reckless, irresponsible, permanent member of
the Security Council abusing its power to attack its neighbor and subvert the
UN and our international system. >> This vote showed which countries truly
believe in supporting the core principles of the UN and which ones deploy them
as convenient catchphrases. This vote showed which Security Council members
support the UN Charter and which ones do not. We will be addressing this
matter in the General Assembly, where the Russian veto does not apply. The
nations of the world can, will and should hold Russia accountable and stand in
solidarity with Ukraine. Before I conclude, I want to commend the true and
tremendous courage we're seeing from the Ukrainian people. I want to thank the
Ukrainian permanent representative who is here with us today. Earlier today,
President Biden spoke with President Zelenskyy and personally commended the
brave actions of the Ukrainian people who are fighting to defend their
country. He also conveyed ongoing economic, humanitarian, and security support
being provided by the United States, as well as our continued effort to rally
other countries to provide similar assistance. It's hard to imagine what it
must feel like to see tanks rolling into your city, to see bombs dropped on
your streets, to see soldiers storm your parks and your gardens. But in the
face of all of this, every day, Ukrainian people are taking extraordinary
actions to protect their children, to protect their country, to defend
everything they hold dear. I also want to commend the courage of thousands of
people in Russia who are protesting Putin's war despite grave risk to their
personal safety. They will keep chanting, "No war." They will keep asking how
many Russian lives Putin wants to sacrifice for his cynical ambitions. As we
move forward, I hope more members states take their cues from this courage and
honor, all of this bravery with more of our own. >> Thank you. I now give the
representative of India. >> Mr. President India's deeply disturbed by the
recent turn of developments in Ukraine. We urge that all efforts are made for
the immediate succession of violence and hostilities. No solution can ever be
arrived at at the cost of human lives. We are also deeply concerned about the
welfare and security of the Indian community, including a large number of
Indian students in Ukraine. The contemporary global order has been built on
the UN charter, international law and respect for the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of states. All member states need to honor these
principles in finding a constructive way forward. Dialogue is the only answer
to settling differences and disputes. However daunting that may appear at this
moment. It is a matter of regret that the path of diplomacy was given up. We
must return to it. For all these reasons, India has chosen to abstain on this
resolution. Thank you. >> Thank you. I now give representative of the United
Kingdom. >> Colleagues. >> A large majority of the council has just voted in
favor of a resolution aimed at stopping war. The resolution has not been
adopted, only because of the single veto of the permanent member of this
council, who is perpetrating that conflict. Russia claims that its invasion of
Ukraine is in self-defense. This is absurd. Russia's only act of self-defense
is the vote they have cast against this resolution today. Make no mistake,
Russia is isolated. It has no support for the invasion of Ukraine. History
will record how we voted today, and which countries stood up to be counted in
defense of the charter, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of
Ukraine. The United Kingdom stand steadfast in support of the Ukrainian
people, and will hold Russia accountable for its aggression. Thank you. >>
Thank you. I now give the floor to the representative of Norway. >> President,
Norway voted in favor of the draft resolution. We deeply regret Russia's veto.
Preventing and ending act of aggression is a direct responsibility of this
council. A veto cast by the aggressor undermines the purpose of the security
council. It is a violation of the very foundation of the UN Charter.
Furthermore, in the spirit of the charter, Russia as a party, should have
abstained from voting on this resolution. On Wednesday, as we sat here in the
council chamber, we could see the shocking first images, are what now amount
to a full-scale Russian invasion of a free and independent UN member state. We
can only imagine the hardship the people of Ukraine is going through. With
their tanks, missiles, bombs, planes, warships, and cyber attacks, the Russian
Federation's aggression not only violates the independence, sovereignty, and
territorial integrity of Ukraine, it also constitutes a serious breach of
international peace and security. Russia has disregarded the very core
principle of the rule-based world order that the United Nation has stood for
since the Second World War. Let me be absolutely clear, Norway insists that
the Russian Federation immediately, completely, and unconditionally stops all
fighting, and withdraws all of its forces from the territory of Ukraine.
Russia must respect the principles and purposes of the UN Charter. Norway
expresses full solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people in the face of
Russian aggression. Indeed, we already see the dire consequences for
civilians, with casualties and injuries of large numbers of children, women,
and men. We fear increased suffering in the time ahead, with potentially large
numbers of casualties and extensive destruction of civilian infrastructure
such as schools, medical facilities, water, and electricity plants. We see
fighting unfolding in and around urban areas. We are deeply concerned about
the long-term and protracted harm to the civilian population caused by such
warfare, including the use of heavy explosive weapons. We already see mass
displacement. This will only increase together with trauma, family separation,
and missing persons. >> The situation is a tragedy both for individuals and
the Ukrainian society at large. The parties to the conflict in Ukraine must
comply with their obligations under international law, including human rights
law and international humanitarian law. And ensure the protection of the
civilian population and detainees. Space for neutral and impartial and
independent humanitarian action must be protected to ensure safe, rapid, and
unimpeded humanitarian access to those in need. We condemn in the strongest
possible terms, Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. This council
must now carry out the great responsibility of its mandate and act in a
determined and United manner to stop the ongoing aggression against a UN
member state. We also condemn Belarus for facilitating these attacks. Norway
will join our allies and partners in swift and concrete countermeasures. This
includes the alignment of Norway to the intensified sanctions on the European
Union. Let me conclude by retrading Norway's and wavering support for
Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity, within its internationally
recognized borders, thank you. >> Thank you I now give the floor to the
representative of Ireland. >> Mr. President, Ireland voted in favor of the
draft resolution presented by the United States and Albania in response to the
flagrant violation of the UN Charter of international law, and of the
sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine by the Russian Federation.
The Russian Federation has turned its back on diplomacy, it has spurned
genuine offers of dialogue and rejected repeated calls from the international
community for de-escalation. Instead, it has launched an unjustified, and
unprovoked attack on Ukraine. An attack that continues today, to reign death
and destruction on Ukraine and its people. We condemn these actions outrighti.
In casting our vote today, we do so in full solidarity with the people of
Ukraine. This council has a responsibility to act in the face of conflict, to
protect international peace and security, to uphold the principles the world
agreed upon in response to the utter devastation of the Second World War. This
is not a responsibility that Ireland takes lightly, yet, it is one that we
were prevented from discharging today in spite of the clear, undeclared will
of the great majority of this council's members. Mr. President, we deeply
regret the use of the veto today by the Russian Federation. Veto is an
anachronism, which has no place in today's world. The use of the veto to block
council action is always unacceptable, it's used today and blatant defense of
military aggression is reprehensible. However, the veto in no way obscures the
plain facts of Russian aggression against Ukraine, nor will it hinder the
international community's response to Russia's blatant breaches of
international law, as demonstrated by the broad co-sponsorship of today's
resolution by the wider UN membership. In this context, Ireland strongly
supports the comprehensive sanctions announced by the European Union
yesterday. We stand ready to support further measures if Russia does not
reverse course. Mr. President. >> The unfolding horror of recent days is a
tragedy for the people of Ukraine. And one which evokes nightmares that the
people of Europe fervently hoped had been consigned to a bloodstained history.
Only dialogue and diplomacy offer escape from these nightmares. We call on
Russia to end its aggression against Ukraine today, to turn away from war and
choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy. This is the right path and the time
to take it is now. Thank you. >> Thank you. Now I give the floor to the
representative of France. >> President, at this time Russian missiles are
killing civilians, bombing cities, destroying essential infrastructure with
the sole goal of making Ukraine a vessel state [inaudible 02:19:08] of
re-building the Russian empire. Ukraine is a victim of premeditated aggression
initiated by the President of Russia, nothing can ever justify this. No member
of the council supported them. The result of the vote is clear, Russia is
alone. France welcomes the mobilization of all members of this council by
voting in favor of the resolution expressed by a commitment to International
law and their support for Ukraine. We condemn the use of vetoes by Russia
which are in efforts to ruin peace and international order. Russia is riding
roughshod over its responsibilities as a permanent member of the security
council, which is manipulating the United Nations Charter, violating the most
basic principles. President, within the UN and in all bodies, France will
continue to mobilize with its partners to support Ukraine and the Ukrainian
people. Thank you. >> Thank you. I now give the floor to the representative of
Ghana. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Ghana voted in favor of the draft
resolution on the situation in Ukraine, which did not pass. Because that is
the minimum duty we owe to the Charter, the peoples of the world, and in
particular the government and people of Ukraine as a member of this council.
We join the ten other members of the council in seeking to deploy in the
strongest terms, the Russian Federation's invasion of Ukraine, because that
act breaches Russia's obligation as a member of the United Nations. Its
obligation to respect the provisions of Article 2, paragraph 4 of the Charter.
By not refraining from the use of force in its relations with Ukraine, the
Russian Federation had chosen to violate without justification, the
sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine,
even as several world leaders had appealed for dialogue to find a peaceful
settlement of the situation. The Russian Federation's actions which have
assail the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, have
threatened the global order and the balance of peace and security. We have
also taken note of the Russian Federation's later presented to the council,
that seeks indicate that its use of force against Ukraine was in self-defense.
>> But dismiss it in the face of its all-out military action against Ukraine.
We are pained by the unnecessary and rising number of deaths that have been
occasioned by the invasion and we call on the Russian Federation to
immediately withdraw his forces from Ukraine and to recommit to dialogue and
diplomacy. Besides our own assessment that Ukraine presented no immediate
threat to the Russian Federation, the letter is also interpreted within the
context of Russia's own public declarations over the course of the past days
which have shown to the world that rather than a security merit, this has been
about the use of force against it's weakened neighbor because it could. At the
beginning of it's military buildup on the borders of Ukraine, we were told
that what was being observed was a normal military exercise. When concerns of
over the massive buildup where made, the Russian Federation informed the
world, that his troops were on each side of the borders and had no intention
of crossing the frontiers of Ukraine. At the point we're also informed that
troops were being considered to be sent to the Donbass the region of Ukraine
in the context of peacekeeping. Today, the whole world knows better as we met
in an emergency session on Wednesday night to afford yet another opportunity
for peace. The trust and good-faith crucial for diplomatic engagement was
broken in a cruel and dismissive manner. The battle against Kyiv may yet be
won, but the goodwill of the world has been lost. The use of force as a basis
for secure international agreement has no place in our modern international
order, and the world cannot accept this. Ghana is deeply disappointed by the
actions of the Russian Federation. A permanent member of the security council.
It's action were fallen short of the higher standards expected of all those
states that are considered as enduring guardians of international peace and
security. Indeed, for those members of the council of a special privilege,
there is also special responsibility. I retrade Ghana's full support for the
sovereignty, political independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine in
accordance with the chatter. At a time that the world looked up to the council
to send a strong message that threats and use of force against other states
are unacceptable, we have been unable to do so, not because there's no broad
agreement to do so, but because the way and manner the security council as an
instructor to function as constrained us. The present situation creates
difficult choices which we all must consider and carefully reflect upon as we
proceed with a longstanding efforts to reform the United Nations Security
Council and how it operates. Fortunately, the ongoing process in the General
Assembly provides an opportunity and all member states must genuinely commit
to that process. If we fail to act proactively our inactions would cost us
permanently. Before concluding, let me indicate Ghana's continuing concern
over the situation of the civilian population is an overpass of the
internationally recognized borders of Ukraine, as well as the welfare of more
than 1,000 Ghanaian students and several nationals in that country. We recall
that in accordance with international humanitarian Law, they are quite
sequences for unlawful actions against civilian populations. Also, as a
Secretary- General rightly said in his press engagement on Wednesday night,
the invasion of Ukraine by Russia would come at great cost to most of our
countries. >> Already, our prize have gone beyond $100. Inflation in most of
our countries have began to rise. Investment decisions are being pulled back.
The already difficult situation of economic stagnation triggered by the
COVID-19 pandemic is beginning to worsen. The consequences of these adverse
development is that the fragility of most of our countries will deepen and
further risk created for global stability. The action that I've taken place
against Ukraine are therefore far-reaching and require even greater
solidarity. First, we have the people of Ukraine who bear the direct and
immediate impact of this unjustified action that violates the chatter and the
principles of international law. But also for the many, especially developing
countries whose populations are facing severe austerity. May we find the
wisdom and common purpose to overcome the difficult moment we face. Ours is a
call for peace. Let us give peace to get a chance. I thank you. >> Thank you.
I now give the forum to the representative of Brazil. >> Mr. President. Brazil
regrets that the Security Council was unable to react to a breach of
international peace and security that is still happening as we speak. During
the negotiations, Brazil favored a text that could maintain space for dialogue
among older parties while sending a decisive message for respect to
international law and to the basic principles that for more than 75 years have
saved us from a war of white proportions. We thank the proponents for their
flexibility in several aspects of the draft during the negotiations. Mr.
President, the framing of the use of force against Ukraine as an act of
aggression in the draft. A precedent that has seldom been used in this
council, signals to the world the gravity of the situation, but could also
downplay other times when force was used against the territorial integrity of
member states with no equivalent reaction from the council. Indeed, we could
have ended up with a text that is more conducive to reconciliation. Brazil has
fought for that. However, under the current circumstances, not even a
different text would have been enough to allow the council to fulfill its
responsibility to maintain international peace and security today. No country
elected or non-elected with or without veto power, should be able to use force
against the territorial integrity of another state with no council reaction.
The council's paralysis when world peace is at stake could lead to its
irrelevance when we need it most. It is our collective responsibility not to
allow this to happen. I thank you. >> Thank you. I now give the forum to the
representative of the United Arab Emirates. >> Thank you, Mr. President. The
series developments in Ukraine, we all agree undermine regional and
international peace and security and throughout this crisis, my country has
consistently called for de-escalation and dialogue. We placed great hope in
the various diplomatic initiatives and channels aimed at resolving the crisis.
>> And those calls reflected our alarm at the consequences of this crisis for
civilians present in Ukraine as well as for the region and for the
international community. And we emphasize the importance of ensuring that
humanitarian assistance reaches those in need, and call on all parties to
respect international humanitarian law, prioritize the protection of
civilians, and allow for the unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance.
We further believe that every member state of the United Nations has the right
to security, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. Being from
the Middle East, we are intimately aware of the critical importance of a
stable regional security environment and of de-escalation, diplomacy and
dialogue as the basis for that security. Similarly, we understand from
experience and share the need for inclusive and consultative processes. We
support the draft resolutions emphasis on the need to adhere to the principles
of international law and to the structure of the United Nations. And that must
be the basis of the resumption of dialogue and the pathway forward now that
that resolution has not been adopted. The UAE restates its commitment to the
territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of all member states of
the United Nations. We urge for immediate de-escalation and cessation of
hostilities, and we once more underscore our readiness to work with members of
this council towards that goal. The results of this vote were a foregone
conclusion, but the avenues for dialogue and diplomacy must remain open more
urgently than ever before, and we must pursue them together. This is the clear
sentiment that this council is united on. Thank you. >> Thank you, I now
welcome the representative of Kenya. >> Mr. President, Kenya has voted in
favor of the draft resolution to affirm Article 2 of the United Nations
Charter that all members shall refrain in their international relations from
the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political
independence of any state. We voted yes to register our opposition to the
breaching of the territorial integrity of Ukraine by the Russian Federation.
We voted with hearts that are heavy with sympathy for the people of Ukraine.
We offer our condolences to all the Ukrainian families that have suffered the
devastating loss of loved ones to this unnecessary war. Our affirmative vote
today transcends the tragedy unfolding in Ukraine. We voted yes, also having
in mind the justifications for past interventions by other powerful states
using resolutions from this very council that seriously compromised
international peace and security. Even as deserved condemnations ring out
today, about the breach of Ukraine's sovereignty, history's condemnations are
allowed silence in this room. We cannot help but recall that African Sahel
region is in terrible turmoil due to the hasty and ill-considered intervention
in Libya a decade ago. On that occasion, the African Union sought more time
for diplomacy, it's council was ignored. And what resulted was not peace or
the safety and security of the Libyan people. Instead, terror was unleashed on
African peoples in the countries to the south of Libya. There have been yet
other actions of similar magnitude that have brought us to this unfortunate
pass. >> Today, the precious fabric of our charter lies tone and trampled and
threatened with further harm if there is no urgent and visionary leadership
with a faith in diplomacy, pushing in the opposite direction. If the United
Nations Charter could speak for itself, it would vote for this resolution to
affirm its central role in safeguarding our collective piece. It would remind
all members of the Security Council and the United Nations that the charter
contains the tools for the Pacific Settlement of their disputes by
negotiation, inquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial
settlement, resort to regional agencies, or arrangements, or other peaceful
means of their own choice. By failing to adopt this resolution, we deeply
regret that the Security Council has failed to stop the infringement of the
sovereignty of a member of the United Nations. I thank you. >> Thank you, I
know give the podium to the representative of China. >> Thank you, Mr.
President. Mr. President, China is deeply concerned about the latest
developments of the situation in Ukraine. Now, it has come to such a point
which we do not want to see. China always forms its own position on the based
of the merits of the matter at hand. We believe that the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of all states should be respected, and that the purposes
and principles of the UN Charter, should be jointly upheld. We have always
called on all parties to see reasonable solutions to address each others'
concerns through peaceful means on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.
We welcome and encourage all efforts for a diplomatic solution, and we support
the Russian Federation and Ukraine in resolving the issue through
negotiations. In the past week, the Security Council has held two emergency
meetings and all parties have fully elaborated on their positions and concerns
on the current situation. A president faced with a highly complex and
sensitive situation, though Security Council should make a necessary response.
At the same time, such a response should also be taken with great caution, all
actions should be truly conducive to defusing the crisis rather than adding
fuel to fire. If not handled properly, and treated by bending oneself on the
exhorting pressure and imposing sanctions, it may only lead to more
casualties, more properties lose, and more complicated and chaotic situation,
and more difficulties in bridging differences. It may completely shut the door
to a peaceful solution. Eventually, it is the vast number of innocent people
that will be the victims. We must draw profound lessons from the extremely
painful experiences in the past. Based on the above mentioned, China abstained
in the vote just now. I wish to stress that the issue of Ukraine is not
something that only emerged today, nor did the current situation occur
certainly overnight, it is the result of the interplay of various factors over
a long period of time. China advocates a common comprehensive, cooperative,
and sustainable security concept believing a sedice, that the security of one
country cannot come at the terms of undermining the security of other nations,
and that much less can visualize security, be secured through group
strengthening and to that matter, group expansion. Against the metro of five
successive rounds of NATO expansion threshold in the security aspirations
should be given the attention and the addressed popularly. Ukraine should
become a breach between the East and the West, but not an on-post
confrontation between major powers. They strongly call upon all parties
concerned to exercise maximum restraint, ease tensions, avoid civilian
casualties. The final settlement of the Ukraine crisis still requires
abandoning the Cold War mentality, giving full attention and respect to the
legitimate security concerns of all countries and conducting negotiations to
build a balanced, effective, and a European Security mechanism. We urge all
parties to return immediately to the trunk of Diplomatic negotiations and
political settlement. It shows a narrative, and sincerity, and goodwill make a
political decision and engage in dialogue and consultation for a comprehensive
settlement of Ukraine issue. I thank you, Mr. President. >> Thank You. I shall
now deliver a statement in my capacity as the representative of the Russian
Federation. The Russian Federation voted against the anti-Russian and
anti-Ukrainian draft resolution of the Security Council that was submitted
today. Why is it anti-Russian? I think that there is no need to explain. Why
it suffices to have a job at merely cast a cursory glance of the texts wise
and anti-Ukrainian, this is because the document beyond any doubt runs counter
to the fundamental interests of the Ukrainian people. And so far as it is an
attempt to salvage and cement in Ukraine that system of power which brought
the country to the point of tragedy which has now been ongoing for at the very
least eight years down, we think those who did not support this draft. I will
not respond to those. >> Accuse the Russian Federation of abusing the veto
right. The main reason for a negative vote is not the fact that what is
included in the draft, but what is left out. If its sponsors were to attempt
to make it even remotely balanced, then they would not have left out issues
which must be addressed and cannot be overlooked in the context of the
Ukrainian problem. Specifically, what was left out is the fact that those who
assumed and seize power as a result of the anti-constitutional coup of Kiev
February 2014 have referred to them by Don Hutto, the way that they unleashed
a war against the residents of the country east shelling residential areas
with hard to illustrate pieces and multiple rocket launchers raining bombs on
the people of Donetsk and Luhansk. What was left out was the way that the
Ukrainian authorities with the encouragement of their Western patrons,
consistently and cynically shocked their responsibility to implement them in
agreements the Lynch pan of which was direct dialogue with the residents of
the country's east. At the same time, what was the position in the line of
contact the deployment of Ukrainian death squads comprised largely of radical
neo-Nazi battalions mythically day after day shell the residential areas of
DPR and LPR killing women, children, and the elderly and incidentally, this is
ongoing today. Just today four civilians died as a result of the actions of
the Ukrainian armed forces. And how can we fail to mention the blood-chilling
crimes by the Ukrainian nationalists as perpetrator over the past eight years,
and the fact that the protestors against Maidan and Odessa were burned alive
the fact that peaceful protesters in Maidan were shot at by unknown snipers.
The investigation into both of these tragedies is something that has been
deliberately swept under the rug by the Maidan regime and at the same time,
the culprit in the Odessa tragedy, are well-known, they are openly flaunting
their presences and yet an alternative investigation and the recognition by
the snipers themselves unambiguously confirms that the slaughter at
Independent Square was a provocation by the leaders of Maidan. We specifically
last year carried out an informal security council meeting, an REO meeting on
both of these issues with the aim of sharing with the security council
colleagues more information about this. And yet in response at first what we
heard from Western partners were merely hackney clichés about so-called
Russian propaganda. How can there be a resolution on the Ukrainian issue
without these above-mentioned issues being mentioned? It would have been wise
to include in the draft an honest assessment of the role of Western colleagues
in inflating this Ukrainian crisis. Not only did they stand behind the Maidan
coup, but they also effectively issued a [inaudible 02:43:58] to Kiev to carry
out any acts, any steps that would be unthinkable for any civilized state. And
this includes the egregious discrimination against the Russian language and
consequently Russian language speakers, this includes glorification of
Hitler's henchmen alongside the prohibition on processions to honor the real
heroes of Ukraine who freed it of Nazism as well as their religious schism in
that country. As you spin tales about the triumph of democracy in Ukraine in
Ukraine. The Maidan authority and nationalists have been with impunity
murdering their political opponents, they have been persecuting the
opposition, they have been shuttering opposition television channels where it
was possible to at least have some small dose of relatively objective
information. Six of those television channels were shuttered under President
Zelenskyy alone. And how can we fail to mention the fact that weapon has been
flooded with weapons that were used then to kill civilians in Donbas, you have
made Ukraine upon in your geopolitical game with no concern whatsoever about
the interest of the Ukrainian people, responsibility for what is transpiring
that present wise, not only with the Ukrainian government, but it also lies at
your feet ladies and gentlemen, and today your draft resolution is nothing
other than yet another brutal inhumane move in this Ukrainian chessboard.
Colleagues today all Western media outlets have been inundated with reports
about how civilian populations in Kiev and a host of other Ukrainian cities
have been seeking shelter in bomb shelters and they are fighting for their
lives and fleeing artillery fire. We genuinely empathize with our neighbors
and we urge them not to yield to provocation. President Putin and the Russian
defense ministry explicitly stated, and clearly stated that there would be no
strikes targeting the infrastructure but the nationalists are already using
civilians as human shields. Specifically, we categorically condemn the
placement by nationalist in residential areas of artillery and multiple rocket
launchers. This is a direct breach of door of international humanitarian law,
including Articles 51 and 58 to the First Additional Protocol of the Geneva
Conventions. We see that when the situation is being exploited propagandistic
exercises by Western politicians and media outlets. I would like to ask you,
where were you eight years ago? Why were you unmoved when there was murdered
and artillery strikes in Donbas? Why didn't you even bother to notice that
more than four million people living in DPR and an LPR who at best were
branded, pro-Russian separatists? Why didn't you repudiate Poroshenko when he
said that the residents of Donbas would rot in basements? Or Zelensky why
didn't you repudiate him when they call them non-people and specimens?
Pandemically I cannot but note that at the height of our very frequently using
imagery from Donbas brandishing them as alleged consequences of the so-called
Russian aggression in Ukraine. These fakes are abundant and proliferating
today, they have flooded the Internet and a number of Telegram channels and
they're videos- >> Alleging Russian strikes targeting residential areas which
were filled at other parts of the world have nothing to do with Ukraine. This
was mentioned today by the British Broadcasting Company, BBC, having issued an
article, Ukraine conflict, many misleading images have been shared online.
Their everything is there. There are photographs of parades, photographs of
American aircraft which bombed Libya. And photographs from Syria, and even an
explosion in Beirut, which is being portrayed as what has transpired in
Ukraine. I will send this article to you distinguished members of this
security council separately. And specifically, I wish to turn to my French,
British, and American colleagues. For the representative of France said, that
in Ukraine what is taking place is the murder of civilians. That is untrue,
Russian troops are not bombing Ukrainian cities, and we said, that they are
not threatened by anything, there is no verifiable confirmation whatsoever
about the deaths of civilians. A permanent representative to the United
Kingdom, I will note that what you are portraying, as what alleging that the
Russian military pieces are targeting civilians. I saw the reports today, and
I would like to report that this, you can see from the videos that this is
heavy tank piece called Strela-10 or Arrow-10. And this is in the possession
of the Ukrainian armed forces. The Russian military does not have this
equipment. They are obsolete. This is the fake pieces of information that you
are using, US college I will note, that this with respect to the alleged
bombing of the kindergarten, that too was fake. Of course, it is difficult for
us to compete with United States in terms of the number of invasions,
targeting their neighbors, I will refrain from listing out the aggression
carried out by the United States in their history. But you are in no position
to moralize. To conclude, I was to emphasize, we are not waging a war against
Ukraine or the Ukrainian people. We are carrying a special operation against
nationalism for the protection of the residents of Donbas for damassification
and for demilitarization. These objectives will soon be achieved, and the
Ukrainian people will gain an opportunity to once again independently
determine their future, and in so doing to live in peace, good neighborliness,
and cooperation with alternative neighbours. I now resume my duties as a
president of the security council, and I give the floor to the representative
of the United States for additional remarks. >> Colleagues, I am asked to take
the floor for a different reason, so I'm not going to respond to the atrocious
lies and propaganda, and misinformation that you just heard from our Russian
colleague. What I asked to take the floor for, was to recall the names of some
of our colleagues who were not named earlier due to the rapidly moving
response to these events in Ukraine. Some of them were left off, who were
sponsors of the resolution, and I'd just like to highlight their names because
we so appreciate what they have done. Barbados, Croatia, Estonia, the Gambia,
Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Japan, Kiribati, Lesotho, Marshall Islands, Monaco,
North Macedonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, and Suriname. I want to thank you,
and all of you, for your support. We will continue to all speak in one voice
in the days ahead, to address the atrocious situation that we see happening
every day on the ground, despite what we've heard from my Russian colleagues.
I now thank you. >> Thank you. >> And I now give the floor to the
representative of Ukraine. >> Distinguished members of the Security Council, I
will not dignify the Russian diabolical script. That is rather, a letter of
application for an upscale seat in the hell by commenting it. I would like to
use this opportunity to thank the parents of every ambassador here. To thank
the people of the democratic nations, who put these ambassadors in their
seats. To tell the children of those ambassadors, that they should be proud of
their parents, that they have voted in favor of the resolution. I thank my
good friend, Nikola from France, Rolando from Brazil, my good friend, Haja
from Albania. Linda, Barbara, Mona, my good friend for Mexico, Martin from
Kenya, Ireland, Ghana, Gabon. I thank dozens of co-sponsors who would vote in
favor of their resolution, should they have a chance to vote, but they will
have this chance in days to come. >> The draft recalls the obligation of all
states under Article 2 of the UN Charter to refrain in their international
relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or
political independence of any state. The draft called on Russia to stop its
offensive against Ukraine. And the memories are very fresh. The security
council was discussing the ways to prevent the war quite recently in this very
chamber. And at the very same moment, deadly airstrikes were dropped on
civilian heads across my country. And the Russian troops crossed the Ukrainian
border from the territory of Russia. The territory Belarus was uses for
missile attacks and the troops were marching from the occupied parts of the
Ukrain's Darbas and Crimea. Last night was the most horrific for Kiev since,
just imagine 1941 when it was attacked by Nazis. Last night was attacked by
someone who pretends they're fighting with neo-Nazis therefore, I'm not
surprised as Russia voted against. Russia is keen on continuing its Nazi-style
course of action. The Kremlin regime should not be called Russian regime, the
Kremlin regime should be called Russist regime. A couple of hours ago, my
president said, and I quote, "Tonight, the enemy will use all the forces at
their disposal to break our resistance while cruel and inhuman. Tonight, they
will storm. We must all understand whatever it says. We have to persevere
tonight. The fate of Ukraine is being decided right now." End of quote. We
just heard something that the Russian ambassador wanted to present as
assurances from himself and from his leadership. That is all provocation. And
that he urged us not to yield to provocations. Do you remember how many times
he said that and his deputy said in this very room that, "We mean no, no
attacks." Do you remember how during the previous session he was walking out
of the chamber trying to call someone, not knowing what was going on. How we
can trust you? How we can trust your or shouldn't? You have no idea what he
saw in the mind of your president. Your words have less value than a hole in
the New York pretzel. The Russian Federation that occupied by treaty the seat
of the Security Council member in 1991 violates daily not only the charter,
but also the Provisional Rules of procedure of this council. Because if Russia
did not violate the Provisional Rules, then Mr. Nibenzia had to follow article
Rule 20. Let me quote. I begin the quote. "For the proper fulfillment of the
responsibilities of the presidency, he should not preside over the Council
during the consideration over particular question with which the member he
represents," that's the Russian Federation, "He's directly connected." "He;
the rule shall indicate his decision to the council not to preside." So since
the Council is not ruled by the current presidency by rules, I will be
probably also unruly. And I will ask all of you to dedicate a moment of
complete silence to pray, or to meditate if you do not believe in God , for
peace, to pray for souls of those who have been already killed, for souls of
those who may be killed, and I invite the Russian ambassador to pray for
salvation. Please, ladies and gentlemen, let us spend a moment in a complete
silence. >> I want to apologize but before moving to a moment of silence I
want to include in the list those people who perished over all these years in
Donbas also are worthy of being mentioned. All human lives are valuable, let's
not forget that either. >> I do not excuse your record, but let's, ladies and
gentlemen, spend a moment in complete silence. Thank you. I thank you very
much, ladies and gentlemen. >> Let me continue with my statement. I'm saddened
however, that there is small handful of members that seem to be still
tolerating the war. Any complex history, historical contexts could not be used
to justify what is going on. And I may say to some, it is exactly the safety
of your nationals right now in Ukraine, that you should be the first to vote
to stop the war, to save your nationals in Ukraine. And not to think about
whether you should or should not vote because of the safety of your nationals.
Nothing could justify missile shelling's of kindergarten and the North finish
hospitals that happened today. And in fact, one of my relatives got stroke a
couple of days ago and that person cannot be evacuated even to the shelter
because the person is not movable. So the person is in the hospital in the
City of Kyiv. These attacks are war crime sent violation so for the Rome
Statute, whether your party it or not. We are collecting these and other facts
and will immediately send them to the Hague and responsibility is inevitable.
Nothing could justify today's deliberate shelling by Russian warship over
Moldovan flagged chemical tanker with the Russian crew imagine. Or a
Panamanian flag cargo ship near Odessa port in the Black Sea. It is a flagrant
violation of international law of the sea. Is it a time to discuss historical
reflections against the backdrop of the alarming situation in the Chernobyl
nuclear power plant seized by the Russian armed troops? They detain the staff
of the nuclear power plant, not allowing them to rotate as required by
technical safety rules. In other matter of alarm that the control levels of
Gamma radiation, those rates in the exclusion zone have already been exceeded
because of the damage of the top soil due to the movement of a large number of
habit military equipment including tanks. And as a result, there is
contamination by radioactive dust. Dear Security Council members as of
previous night, midnight. Almost 140 persons were killed on Ukrainian side and
316 persons wounded during the first day of the Russian invasion. Many objects
of civilian infrastructure were ruined. To stop the advance of the Russian
tanks, a young gentlemen, a hero, blew himself on a bridge. He killed himself
to destroy the bridge not to let the Russian tanks to go ahead. But the
destruction takes place not only in cities. 80% of infrastructure of the small
town of Shasta located on the government control part of Thembus have been
completely destroyed according to the local administration. Occasionally, the
name of the town is translated as happiness, that's actually the name of the
town. Shasta, happiness. What a grotesque irony. He speaks volumes what
happiness the Russian Federation is bringing to Thembus, to Ukraine to other
nations. Sooner or later if we continue to allow Russia to go ahead with each
diabolical plan, and rest assure ambassador, there will be no hospitality to
your troops in our territory. Ukraine has been executing his right to
self-defense, according to the Article 51, it's not the Russia that executes.
Your perverse reading of the charter is so sick that it's impossible to
interpret. Calling occupational troops peacekeepers, claiming the right of
self-defense? Lunacy. The Russian troops are suffering heavy losses. Aircraft,
helicopters, tanks, trucks, and most importantly personnel. You can stop the
vote in this chamber. But what may stop? >> The war is unfortunately, the
bodies and thousands of bodies of Russian soldiers that will be delivered to
their mothers in Russia. Whether you like it or not, because we have to defend
our territories, we have to defend ourselves on our territory. Thousands of
Ukrainians have already joined the Ukrainian army or territorial defense
forces. And the resolve and dedication of civilians joining the territorial
defense forces is the best proof that we will not surrender even if you
succeed to temporarily occupy additional chunks of our territory. Ukraine has
broken diplomatic relations with Russia, something that had to be done eight
years ago. We call on our partners to follow our example or to find other ways
to severe diplomatic relationships with Russia. We call on international
organizations to ban or suspend the Russia's membership. The later has
happened today in fact, as the Committee of Ministers of the Council of
Europe. By overwhelming majority, I mean, it's almost like consensus adopted
the decision to suspend the Russian Federation from its rise to rise of
representation in the Committee of Ministers and in the parliamentary assembly
or the Council of Europe. In the first place, you shouldn't have been invited
to the Council Europe. You were invited to the Council of Europe. These temple
of human rights in the very middle of the Chechnya war even before the hostile
view agreements. For hypocritical political reasons, the Europeans then were
of the opinion that it's better to invite and you were invited in the middle
of the war, killing thousands and thousands of your own citizens in Chechnya.
We count upon the proper reaction by the international community to medieval
atrocities by Russia in Ukraine. For today, a number of countries have already
imposed sanctions on Russia and the building must be having. And if you say
that sanction is nothing that I'm sure that the bodies of killed soldiers of
Russia is not nothing even if you are completely diabolical. We are sincerely
grateful to the UN for each prompt decision to support the humanitarian
response in Ukraine as well as we highly command the UN efforts to encourage
major humanitarian donors to make additional funding available. I thank the
Secretary-General for his statement to this effect. And my hello plea, stop
harassing the Secretary-General. Stop attacking him. Show respect to the
institution. Stop wiping your feet of the Secretary-General, who is a very
nice person and a dedicated supporter of the UN Charter. We remain open for
negotiations but don't put words in our mouth. Don't manipulate with our
statements about negotiations. We are sick of your interpretations. Speak on
your own behalf. Do not speak on our behalf. This was stated by the President
of Ukraine that we are open to negotiations on a permanent basis and we have
been saying that all along. It is you who killed the Minsk agreements. All
that gibberish about who said what and when in normal default, by no means can
justify the offensive. By no means can justify thousands and thousands of your
troops on our territory. Your today's call of your president to the Ukrainian
army to remove the government of Ukraine. Are you crazy? Show respect for the
core principles enshrined in the UN Charter. Sovereign equality, non-use of
force or threat of force against the territorial integrity and political
independence. In my opening remarks, I said that parents of ambassadors here,
all ambassadors, but you are proud of their children, and children of the
ambassadors are proud of their parents. It's so painful to think what your
family think about you when you lie everyday. The Russian people deserve
peace, democracy. The Russian people deserve liberty, and they will have it.
If not tomorrow, because tomorrow is not possible, then probably in near
future. Thank You. >> The list of speakers is exhaustive. Prior to concluding
today's meeting I wish to comment just on one thing and to calm members of the
council. There was a lot that you comment on. >> A representative of Ukraine.
I will leave the boorishness on his conscience, this is a matter of his
conscience that there's a boorishness with which he address the counsel. If I
say one thing, this is the report yesterday, the Russian Defence Ministry,
yesterday, 24 February, the units of the Russian paratrooper division took
full control of area in the Chernobyl nuclear power plant area. Military
services by Ukraine, an agreement was reached about the joint provision of
security for the sarcophagus and other units in the power plant. We do not
want Ukraine to generate a dirty bomb. The representatives of the Defence
Ministry and all the personnel of these stations continue to carry out some
service there and they are monitoring their radioactive situation. And this is
a report from Vienna, the level of radiation and the Chernobyl nuclear power
plant is low. The threat to population does not exist, this was announced on
Friday by the Director General of the IAEA. The list of speakers is closed.
The meeting stands adjourned. >> You will leave the coordination of all our
efforts, including argument in response on both sides of the contact line. All
concerned in this conflict must respect international humanitarian law and
guarantee the safety and freedom of movements of UN staff and the other
humanitarians. Especially in a moment like this, it is important to remember
that UN is not just the chamber behind me. It is tens of thousands of women
and men around the world, feeding the hungry, vaccinating children, promoting
development, protecting civilians in peacekeeping operations, mediating
conflicts, supporting refugees and migrants, advancing human rights, standing,
delivering, extending a lifeline of hope. The United Nations Charter has been
challenging the past, but it has stood firm on the side of peace, security,
development, justice, international law, and human rights. Time after time,
when the international community has rallied together in solidarity, those
values have prevailed. They will prevail independently of what happens today.
We must do everything in our power so that they prevail in Ukraine, but they
prevail for all humanity. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Good evening.
We stand here in full solidarity with the people of Ukraine. We stand here to
condemn and reject the Russian military aggression against them. This is an
invasion of a member of the United Nations. It is not just a matter for
Ukraine, nor is it just a matter for Europe. It's an attack against the
fundamental principles of this organization. As stated by the Secretary
General, Russia's military offensive is a repudiation of the principles of the
UN Charter. It must stop. We deeply regret the use of the veto by Russia this
evening to block the resolution that was presented today. This has prevented
the UN Security Council from fulfilling its role to maintain international
peace and security, and it is another proof of Russia's isolation and blatant
disrespect for the reaction of the world. The resolution was supported by old
member states of the European Union and many partners from around the world.
Together with Ukraine, we will now work for the General Assembly to demand an
immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine. >> The European Union has
approved sanctions and other measures including against the Russian leadership
that will have severe consequences for Russia, and we've done it together with
our partners and allies. We deplore the tragic loss of life and human
suffering caused by the Russian aggression. And the EU and its member states
are deploying immense efforts to help the courageous people of Ukraine. Thank
you very much. >> Thank you-all. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. And thank you
for staying here this evening. I will now read a joint statement on behalf of
dozens of allies and partners, gathered here with me today. This afternoon,
the Security Council voted on a resolution to hold Russia accountable for its
aggression against Ukraine, to protect civilians including children, and call
for the facilitation of rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian assistance to
those in need. The resolution was vital, and it was straightforward.
Fundamentally, it was about whether the countries on the Security Council
charged with maintaining international peace and security, believe in
upholding the UN Charter. The UN Charter was written with the express purpose
of preventing a war like the one President Putin just started. The war has
brought injustice first days, devastating losses of life. And Russia alone is
accountable. President Putin chose to violate Ukraine's sovereignty. President
Putin chose to violate international law, and President Putin chose to violate
the UN Charter. President Putin chose to drop bombs on Kyiv, to force families
to stuff their lives into backpacks and shelter in subway stations. President
Putin is the aggressor here, there is no middle ground. We believe we have a
particular responsibility to stand up to the violations of the UN Charter,
because Russia is a permanent member of the Security Council who is culpable.
Those of us standing here today continue to believe in the Security Council's
solemn duty and highest purpose to prevent conflict and avert the scourge of
war. Russia has abused his power today to veto our strong resolution, but
Russia cannot veto our words. And as I said in the Council, Russia cannot veto
the Ukrainian people, Russia cannot veto their own people protesting this war
in the streets, and Russia cannot veto the UN Charter. Russia cannot and will
not veto accountability. We thank the members states who signed as co-sponsors
of this resolution for standing with Ukraine and for the UN Charter, today. We
will be taking this matter to the General Assembly where the Russian veto does
not apply. And the nations of the world will continue to hold Russia
accountable. Thank you very much. And thank you to all of our colleagues.
Thank you. >> Ready. Good afternoon. >> Good evening rather. Secretary General
will make-