(CNN) On the anniversary of Russia’s start of the war against Ukraine, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday urged the international community not to let Russian President Vladimir Putin’s crimes “become our new normal” – and appeared to be tacitly downplaying a suggestion by Beijing that to end the war.
Speaking to the United Nations Security Council – just over a year after telling the same forum that Russia is preparing to invade Ukraine – Blinken stressed the need for members of the council, which includes China and Russia, for “the basic principles” of the international order and describe how they might do so.
Blinken cataloged a litany of horrific actions committed by Russia over the past year, speaking of the “inspiring unity” shown by Ukrainians “in helping one another endure Moscow’s relentless onslaught.” He also spoke about how “the international community has come together”.
“Nations around the world continue to stand by Ukraine because we all recognize that if we leave Ukraine, we are giving up the UN Charter itself and the principles and rules that make all our countries safer and more secure: No land grabs by force. No Erasing another country’s borders. No attack on civilians in war,” Blinken said. “Unless we defend these core principles, we are inviting a world where strength makes law and the strong dominate the weak.”
“This is the world this body was created to end. And the members of that council have a unique responsibility to make sure we don’t go back there,” he said.
The top US diplomat said nations must “reaffirm our commitment to uphold what the UN Charter calls ‘the dignity and worth of the human person,'” stressing the need to continue gathering evidence of Russian atrocities with the aim of one day obtaining accountability for these crimes.
“Day in and day out in the face of Russia’s atrocities, it’s easy to go deaf to the horror and lose our ability to feel shock and outrage,” he said. “But we must never allow the crimes committed by Russia to become our new normal.”
“Bucha is not normal. Mariupol is not normal. Irpin is not normal. Bombing schools and hospitals and apartment buildings to rubble is not normal. Stealing Ukrainian children from their families and giving them to people in Russia is not normal.” said Blink.
“We must not allow President Putin’s callous indifference to human life to become our own,” Blinken said. “We must force ourselves to remember that behind every atrocity in this abject war and conflicts around the world is a human being.”
Blinken stressed the need for a “just and lasting peace”.
China’s proposal
In a discussion of China’s newly unveiled 12-point proposal “for a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis,” Blinken noted that he expects “many countries to call for peace today,” but “history teaches us that it is natural.” of peace that matters.”
“For peace to be just, it must uphold the principles of the UN Charter: sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence. For the peace to be lasting, it must ensure that Russia cannot simply rest, rearm, and resume its war in a few months or a few years,” he said. “Any peace that legitimizes Russia’s land grab by force will weaken the charter and send a message to would-be attackers everywhere that they can invade countries and get away with it.”
The 12-point plan released by Beijing on Friday calls for a cessation of hostilities and the resumption of peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv, stating that “all parties should support Russia and Ukraine to work in the same direction and engage in direct dialogue.” resume as soon as possible. to gradually de-escalate the situation and eventually reach a comprehensive ceasefire.”
Blinken said Security Council members “should not fall into the false equation of calling on both sides to stop fighting or calling on other nations to stop supporting Ukraine in the name of peace.”
“No member of this council should call for peace while supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine and against the UN Charter,” he said.
In an interview with ABC’s Good Morning America on Friday, Blinken said the US would “look at” China’s proposal but warned that Beijing is “trying to have it both ways.”
“There are points in the Chinese plans … that align with things that Ukrainians have long said that China itself has published there,” he said. “But you see, China is trying to have it both ways. On the one hand, it tries to present itself publicly as neutral and peace-seeking, while at the same time exalting Russia’s false narrative about the war. It is, as I said, which provides non-lethal aid through its operations and is now contemplating lethal aid.”
In his remarks to the United Nations, Blinken also spoke of the need for the UN Security Council to “continue to address other challenges to international peace and security,” even as it works to end the war.
“We hear the concerns of countries that fear cooperation with Ukraine and Russia’s accountability will divert focus and resources from others in need,” Blinken said.
“I would say to these countries, just look at our actions. And when you hear Russia and its defenders accusing the countries that support Ukraine of ignoring the rest of the world, I say, look at Moscow’s actions,” he said. Comparison of US contributions to UN programs with those of Russia.