Russia praises US move, blasts Europe's peace obstruction
Russia's ambassador to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, acknowledged the American resolution regarding the war in Ukraine as the first constructive step towards peace. Nebenzya simultaneously accused Europe of hindering efforts to achieve peace.
Many reports from Russian media are likely untrue. Such reports may be part of an information war from the Russian Federation.
The Russian ambassador expressed satisfaction with the US initiative, which describes the conflict as a “Russian-Ukrainian war” and does not label Russia as an aggressor. According to Nebenzya, this is the first Security Council document focusing on the path to peace rather than exacerbating the conflict. In his statement, he accused Europe of attempting to sabotage talks between Russia and the United States.
Nebenzya stated that Europe, which is undergoing militarization, is the only international actor determined to prolong the war and is likely to resist any practical efforts to resolve the conflict.
Nebenzya appealed to all who desired lasting peace in Ukraine and said that they should not let "the overenthusiastic Kiev prince and his puppeteers" disrupt efforts made by Russia and the United States. He emphasised that cooperation between these two countries is crucial for achieving lasting peace in the region.
China on engagement in peace talks
China, which also voted for the American resolution, supported the agreement between the US and Russia to start peace talks, but noted that all interested parties should be involved and that the peace should be fair.
Five European countries (the United Kingdom, France, Greece, Slovenia, and Denmark) that abstained from voting were the most critical of the American resolution. South Korea also expressed regret over the rejection of European amendments—calling the Russian war an invasion and demanding a just peace and respect for Ukraine's territorial integrity—although it ultimately voted for the American document.
Not everyone supported the resolution
French diplomat Nicolas de Rivière reaffirmed his commitment to peace in Ukraine, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive, just, and lasting resolution that does not equate to the victim’s capitulation. He explained that this was the reason for not supporting the U.S. resolution, which failed to identify the aggressor in the conflict.
He emphasised that there cannot be any equivalent approach between Russia and Ukraine regarding this war.
Delegates from the United Kingdom, Slovenia, and Denmark backed this stance. British Ambassador Barbara Woodward stressed that Russia could secure peace immediately by halting its aggression and withdrawing its troops from all Ukrainian territory.
Resolution adopted by the UN Security Council
Ten of the 15 countries voted for the resolution, while another five - all European countries - abstained from voting.
The resolution is a short text that only expresses regret over the tragic loss of life in the conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, does not condemn the Russian invasion, and reiterates that the primary goal of the UN is to maintain international peace and security and to resolve disputes peacefully. It contains only three paragraphs, calling for lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine and a quick resolution.
Earlier, the exact American draft resolution was amended at the request of European countries, adopting the same amendments that the US vetoed during Monday's Security Council meeting. The General Assembly also adopted a Ukrainian resolution condemning the aggression and calling on Russia to withdraw its forces.
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