Ambassador Russia to the UN: We will not allow another massacre in the Donbas
Ukraine is sabotaging the Minsk accords by refusing to sit down with separatists from the east of the country, and Western countries are pushing Ukraine into conflict. The Russian ambassador to the UN said this during the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.
According to Vasily Nebenzya, Ukraine is on the brink of “a military adventure”, but Russia will not allow “a new massacre in the Donbas”.
Ukraine’s representative to the UN was the last to speak at the emergency meeting. He repeated Ukrainian President Zelensky’s message from earlier in the evening by emphasizing that Ukraine’s borders cannot be tampered with. He also called on Russia to return to the negotiating table. “We are our own country. We are not afraid of anything or anyone. We will not give anything away to anyone,” he said.
US ambassador to the UN: Russian peacekeeping mission is nonsense
The US ambassador to the United Nations lashed out at Russia during the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. According to Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the peace mission announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin for the Donetsk and Luhansk regions is “nonsense”.
By recognizing the separatist regions as independent states, Russia is laying the groundwork “to create a pretext for a further invasion of Ukraine,” said Thomas-Greenfield. “No one can stand on the sidelines.”
She added that Putin’s motives should not be doubted. “He wants to go back to a time when empires ruled the world, before the United Nations existed. He wants to test the international system and see how far he can go. This is not 1919,” said Thomas-Greenfield.
Barbara Woodward addressed Russia directly on behalf of the United Kingdom. “Russia has brought us to the brink of collapse. We urge Russia to step back,” she said. Rosemary DiCarlo, UN deputy secretary general for political affairs, said she regretted Russia’s decision when opening the emergency meeting. “The coming hours and days will be very important. The risk of major conflict is real and should be avoided at all costs,” said DiCarlo.
Zelensky: we don’t owe anyone anything
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has emphasized in a speech that he wants peace and that his government remains committed to diplomacy. Zelensky addressed his people in a televised speech on Monday evening. According to the president, Russia is sabotaging the Minsk agreements with the decision to recognize the regions of Luhansk and Donetsk as independent states.
“We don’t owe anyone anything and we will not give anything to anyone,” said Zelensky, who stressed that Ukraine’s external borders will not change regardless of Russia’s decision. He called the Russian move a violation of “the integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine”.
The Ukrainian president also emphasized “not to be afraid”, but also to count on “clear support” from Western countries. He also called for a summit with Germany, France and Russia to discuss the situation.
Russian troops move into separatist region
A large number of armored vehicles are said to have entered the Ukrainian region of Donetsk from Russia. That writes the Russian news site Interfax† The move follows Russia’s decision earlier on Monday to recognize Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk regions as independent states.
Russian President Vladimir Putin then announced a “peace mission” in the two regions. Under an agreement Putin signed with the separatist leaders of the two regions, Russia has thereby acquired the right to build military bases in the area.
It is not only Interfax reporting columns of military vehicles in Donetsk. The Guardian writes based on local sources in Ukraine that Russian armored vehicles are on the road in the town of Makiivka, 15 kilometers west of Donetsk. A French newspaper journalist Le Figaro writes on Twitter that “dozens of Russian tanks and artillery pieces” are en route to the Ukrainian region.
UN Security Council convenes in emergency meeting
Ukraine, the United States, Britain and France have called on the UN Security Council to meet in an emergency meeting on Monday to respond to Russia’s decision. Albania, Ireland, Norway and Mexico, all currently members of the council, also support the call.
Russia currently chairs the Security Council and needs to schedule the emergency meeting. According to the AP news agency, the country has now done so and the council will meet at 3 a.m. Dutch time.
World leaders react furiously to Russia decision
European leaders have reacted strongly to Russia’s decision to recognize the separatist regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called the decision “a violation of the unity of the territory and of the sovereignty of Ukraine. It does not fit with the principles of the United Nations charter.”
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called the move “a gross violation of international law and a serious blow to diplomatic efforts to find a solution.” Chancellor Olaf Scholz is said to have already spoken with France and the United States about an appropriate response to the Russian statement.
French President Emmanuel writes on Twitter to condemn the decision, and calls for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council and (new) European sanctions. Boris Johnson calls Russia’s action ‘a blatant violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and integrity’ according to Reuters news agency† “I think it is a very bad omen,” said the British Prime Minister.
Emmanuel Macron Emmanuel Macron En reconnaissant les régions séparatistes de l’est de l’Ukraine, la Russie viole ses engagements et porte atteinte à la souveraineté de l’Ukraine. Je condamne cette decision. J’ai demandé une reunion d’urgence du Conseil de sécurité des Nations unions et des sanctions européennes.
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