‘High time for peace’, UN chief says, as Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine enters third 12 months | EUROtoday

“Two years on and a decade since Russia’s attempted illegal annexation of Ukraine’s Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, the war in Ukraine remains an open wound at the heart of Europe,” António Guterres mentioned.

“It is high time for peace – a just peace, based on the UN Charter, international law and General Assembly resolutions,” he harassed.

Addressing Security Council members, with a number of Ministers and ambassadors in attendance, the Secretary-General reminded them of the United Nations precept of the sovereign equality of all its Members.

He acknowledged that as per the UN Charter, worldwide disputes shall be settled by peaceable means, and that every one States shall chorus from the menace or use of pressure towards the territorial integrity or political independence of some other State.

‘In any war, everyone suffers’

Mr. Guterres pointed to the struggling of civilians on either side of the battle.

In Ukraine, a minimum of 10,500 civilians have died and lots of extra have been injured; faculties, hospitals and different important civilian infrastructure have been destroyed, and several other hundred cities and villages are lower off from electrical energy throughout a brutal winter.

Several million folks have been pushed from their houses, and numerous households, particularly on the frontlines, rely on humanitarian help.

“Many Ukrainians are experiencing the living nightmare of losing their children. All children that have been deported must be reunited with their families,” Mr. Guterres mentioned.

“The war is also hurting the people of Russia. Thousands of young Russians are dying on the frontlines. Civilians hit by strikes on Russian cities are also suffering,” he added.

Danger of escalation ‘very real’

The Secretary-General additionally voiced deep concern over the hazard of the battle escalating and increasing “is very real”.

“Around the world, the war is deepening geopolitical divides. Fanning regional instability. Shrinking the space available to address other urgent global issues,” he mentioned.

Concluding his deal with, Mr. Guterres mentioned that since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, “we have had two years of fighting, two years of suffering, two years of stoking global tensions and straining global relations.”

“Enough,” he harassed, noting that scorning the Charter has been the issue, and honouring it’s the resolution.

“That means honouring the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders. It is time to recommit to the Charter and renew respect for international law,” he mentioned.

“That is the path to peace and security – in Ukraine and around the world.”

The UN Security Council assembly on the upkeep of peace and safety in Ukraine.

France: Russia should finish battle now

Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné of France addresses the Security Council assembly on the upkeep of peace and safety in Ukraine.

French Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Séjourné mentioned that Russia has been waging a battle for 2 years, an unjust, unjustifiable and unlawful battle of aggression after searching for to invade its neighbour and take its territory for 10 years.  

Neither Moscow’s false pretexts nor its propaganda and big disinformation on social networks can cover this clear and indeniable state of affairs, he mentioned.

Unlike Russia, Ukraine needs peace, he continued.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was in Paris final week, proposed a peace plan greater than a 12 months in the past, and Ukraine has recognized key rules and began discussions with quite a few companions from all continents and never simply the European continent.

“No one wants peace more than the Ukrainian people,” he mentioned.

“Our Council must work for the victory of Ukraine, because it would be the victory of the Charter. The overthrow of societies through brutal and imperialist aggression should not be accepted. Russia must put an end to this war and withdraw its troops from Ukrainian territory, which will never belong to it.”

UK: ‘We all must stand up to Putin’

David Cameron, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom, addresses the Security Council assembly on the upkeep of peace and safety in Ukraine.

David Cameron, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom, mentioned the Council is assembly two years since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a completely unprovoked invasion of a sovereign UN Member.

“My question to Putin is simple: Why?” he requested. “How is Russia living up to its responsibilities as a permanent member of this Council to uphold international peace and security? How many ridiculous explanations have we now had for the invasion?”

That is the straightforward fact: Mr. Putin believes he can take territories, redraw borders, train pressure to construct his empire, he mentioned, questioning if the Council will “let this stand”.

“We know Ukraine’s answer, for we saw the courage of President Zelenskyy two years ago; the Kremlin expected Ukraine to fold, but they are standing firm for their freedom,” Mr. Cameron mentioned, including that on Thursday, the UK imposed additional sanctions, clamping down on Russia’s military-industrial advanced and people enablers searching for to maintain it operating.

“These sanctions are a reminder,” he continued. “In acting so brazenly, Putin is in fact openly trying to upset the international order, replacing it not with some progressive vision of equality of nations, but with a return to a 19th century ideology where might – particularly his might – is right.”

He mentioned, “this is why we all must stand up to Putin, not just out of sympathy for Ukraine, but because his actions in Ukraine are dangerous for everyone else,” including that respect for sovereignty lies on the coronary heart of the worldwide system and the UN.

“And that’s why nothing should matter more to us than seeing Putin fail,” he mentioned. “We must not falter.  We must stand firm.”

US urges world assist for Ukraine

Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield of the United States addresses the Security Council assembly on the upkeep of peace and safety in Ukraine.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the United States to the UN, recalled that two years in the past, as Council members sitting across the identical desk known as for diplomacy and de-escalation, “President [Vladimir] Putin openly chose war.”

“We could see the reality of Russia’s brutal aggression unfolding in real time; the world could see that choice between violence and diplomacy, war and peace unfolding in real time,” she mentioned.

“Today, despite President Putin’s best efforts, the world continues to bear witness to Russian brutality, Russian hypocrisy and Russian cruelty,” she added. 

The US ambassador mentioned the “senseless war” has worsened world meals insecurity, impacted world vitality, triggered incalculable harm to the surroundings, and undermined the worldwide non-proliferation regime. 

She added that within the face of such cruelty, demise and destruction, the Ukrainian folks have fought again successfully – “vastly outnumbered, they have not only defended their land but their freedoms, their democracy and their identity.”

Ms. Thomas-Greenfield known as for larger assist for Ukraine, to assist it struggle not just for peace however for a simply, lasting peace, rooted within the UN Charter’s basic rules.

“Let us be exceedingly clear here: if Russia puts down its weapons today, the war will end; if Ukraine puts down its weapons, Ukraine would be over,” she mentioned. 

Russia: ‘In this proxy war…Ukraine is losing’ 

Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia of the Russian Federation addresses the Security Council assembly on the upkeep of peace and safety in Ukraine.

Russian Ambassador and Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia mentioned that one 12 months in the past, the Western bloc had tried to advertise its peaceable initiatives and brazenly instilled in Ukrainian President Zelenskyy the notion that he might beat Russia. Ukraine has fully failed, whereas the West continues to pump weapons into the nation and to debate “dead end” peace prospects.

“For the people of Ukraine, it’s increasing clear how ineffective its Government is and how much it lacks independence,” he mentioned. “In this proxy war…Ukraine is losing.”

Meanwhile, the European Union has develop into “a satellite of the US”, and Germany, as an example, has suffered losses of billions of {dollars} stemming from sanctions towards Russia.  

Instead of getting relations with its neighbour, Russia, the bloc is “shooting itself in the foot” by falling right into a harsher vitality dependency with the US and has fallen into Russophobia.

He mentioned that two years in the past, “we sent our boys to fight to end a war” towards the Donbas area, “not to start one”.

Turning to the Minsk agreements, he mentioned France, the UK and others didn’t take these treaties significantly. At the identical time, Ukraine stepped up navy actions with international States.

“Any conflict ends sooner or later,” he mentioned. “There’s no doubt that the Ukrainian conflict will end as well. There’s no doubt that the longer it lasts due to the sustained support by the West, the less advantageous the peace dividends will be for Ukraine.”

Europe is within the throes of strategic blindness whereas denying to Russia its personal official defence pursuits, which is a short-sighted strategy, he mentioned, including that the bloc continues to advertise anti-Russia propaganda, which the US tried to do throughout the Cold War.

A good Euro-Atlantic safety system should be mentioned, he mentioned, noting that NATO’s present actions embrace expectations that its enlargement is “an absolute right”.

China: Search for a wise resolution

Ambassador Zhang Jun of China addresses the Security Council assembly on the upkeep of peace and safety in Ukraine.

Zhang Jun, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of China to the UN mentioned that the worldwide neighborhood ought to actively seek for a for a wise resolution to the battle to make sure that that peace can prevail. 

Efforts ought to stay targeted on a political settlement, he mentioned, stating that the precedence ought to be to cease hostilities, launch direct talks and restore peace.

He known as the events to the battle to indicate a way of accountability and to advertise detente.  

Providing arms and stoking the hearth isn’t the answer, the Chinese ambassador continued, stating that we should keep the course in the direction of widespread safety.

We should be aware of the official considerations of all international locations, he mentioned.

The state of affairs Europe is dealing with at the moment is straight associated to the enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), he mentioned, including that there should be a soul-searching and for trying on the world by means of an goal lens.

All international locations, massive and small, are entitled to a spot within the worldwide enviornment, he added, noting that sliding again into the colonial period isn’t an choice.

Bullying is not going to work, win-win cooperation will, the ambassador highlighted, voicing China’s opposition to sanctions imposed by the US and UK, utilizing the Ukraine problem as an excuse.

China isn’t a celebration to the battle, he mentioned, stating that it has all the time maintained that the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of all international locations, together with Ukraine, should be revered.

Ukraine: Russia has no authorized proper

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba of Ukraine addresses the Security Council assembly on the upkeep of peace and safety of Ukraine.

The Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, famous that the Council assembly was happening on the identical time of one other air raid within the nation and fewer than an hour after a residential constructing in Odesa had been hit, severely wounding two civilians.

“I’m afraid that someone is going to die in Ukraine before this meeting is adjourned because talking about negotiations is one thing, but throwing more drones and missiles on Ukraine as Russia does every day is completely another thing,” he mentioned.

Mr. Kuleba informed the Council that Russia’s title “is synonymous with aggression, war crimes and barbarism” whereas “its ugly face is the direct result of its impunity, stemming first and foremost from its presence in this chamber’s seat.”

He mentioned the Russian Federation is occupying the place of the Soviet Union, which now not exists, and the authorized switch of its seat within the Council by no means occurred.

“This is an example of how a small fraud led to a global catastrophe,” he mentioned. “We continue to insist that Russia has no legal right to be present at this table, and the future reform should correct this historic mistake that led to deadly consequences.”

He mentioned roughly 24 years of President Putin’s regime “has already ruined millions of lives” as throughout this time, Russia has launched or joined at three main wars – Georgia, Ukraine and Syria – or roughly one each eight years.  

The nation has stands behind the tried coup in Montenegro and destabilizing efforts within the Sahel area in Africa, he continued.

“And the scariest thing is that we must now focus not only on the lives already taken by Russia, but also on the lives that it is prepared to take in the future.”

Mr. Kuleba acknowledged that it is just by means of resolute and joint motion “that we can put the aggressor in its place and restore international peace and security.”