UNITED NATIONS, April 5 – Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday that Russia “must be held accountable” when he accused invading Russian troops of “the most horrific war crimes” since to have committed World War II.
Zelenskyi showed a short video of burned, bloodied and mutilated bodies, including children, in Irpin, Dymerka, Mariupol and Bucha, where Ukraine has accused Russian forces of killing hundreds of civilians. Continue reading
Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia then told the Security Council that Russian troops are not targeting civilians and dismissed allegations of abuse as lies. He said that while Bucha was under Russian control, “not a single civilian suffered any kind of violence”.
Zelenskyy questioned the value of the 15-member UN Security Council, which was unable to take action over Russia’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine because Moscow, along with other permanent councilors from the United States, France, Britain and Russia, had veto power is China.
“We are dealing with a state that converts its veto in the UN Security Council into the right to (cause) death,” Zelenskyy said in a live video address from the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, calling for reform of the world body. “Russia wants to turn Ukraine into a silent slave.”
Russia says it is conducting a “special military operation” aimed at destroying and “denazifying” Ukraine’s military infrastructure and denies attacking civilians. Ukraine, a parliamentary democracy, and Western countries say Moscow invaded without provocation.
Russia’s partner China, which has abstained in most UN votes since the war began, is “deeply disturbed” by the images of civilian deaths in Bucha, China’s UN ambassador Zhang Jun said, calling for an investigation into what happened.
India, which relies heavily on Russia for military equipment and has also abstained on UN action, condemned the Bucha killings and called for an independent investigation. Continue reading
Russia’s Nebenzia said: “We don’t shoot at the civilian targets to save as many civilians as possible. This is precisely why we are not making as much progress as many expected.”
‘SHOW BACKBONE’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appears on a screen as he addresses via video link the Security Council of the United Nations during a meeting amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine at the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan, New York City, New York, the United States, April 5, 2022 United Nations speaks. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
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US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said responsible world powers and global leaders must “show backbone — and withstand Russia’s dangerous and unprovoked threat to Ukraine and the world.”
“No one can be a shield for Russia’s aggression,” she said as Washington pushed to bar Russia from the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council.
The 193-member UN General Assembly in New York is expected to vote on Thursday’s suspension, diplomats said. A two-thirds majority of the voting members present is required. Continue reading
Nebenzia replied: “I hope that our colleagues from the United Nations do not allow themselves to be manipulated and play against Washington.”
According to the United Nations, around 11 million Ukrainians – more than a quarter of the population – have fled their homes. More than 4 million of these people left Ukraine.
UN Secretary General Martin Griffiths said at least 1,430 civilians had been killed, including more than 121 children. “We know that’s probably a serious underestimate,” he added.
Griffiths, who is seeking a humanitarian ceasefire in Ukraine, said “we have a long way to go” after holding an “open” meeting with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Monday. Griffiths said he hopes to travel to Ukraine on Wednesday to meet with Ukrainian officials.
United Nations political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo said UN human rights monitors are trying to review allegations of sexual violence by Russian forces.
“This includes gang rape and rape in front of children,” she said. “There are also allegations of sexual violence by Ukrainian armed forces and civil defense militias.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the Security Council that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “by its nature, intensity and consequences” is one of the greatest challenges to the international order.
Reporting by Michelle Nichols and Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Jonathan Oatis