Right of Reply by Konstantin Vorontsov, Deputy Head of the Russian Delegation, at the General Debate in the First Committee of the 78th session of the UNGA
Mr. President,
We reject all unfounded allegations voiced by Western countries with regard to the special military operation conducted by Russia in Ukraine in full compliance with the UN Charter and international law.
The events unfolding in Ukraine have a global geopolitical dimension. The US and its NATO allies use Kiev as an instrument to fight against Russia; they seek to preserve their dominance in global affairs and prevent the emergence of a truly multipolar world order with centers of power independent from Washington.
There is numerous evidence clearly pointing to the fact that the US and its allies had, for years, been gearing up Kiev for war by pumping it full of weapons and derailing the implementation of the unanimously adopted UNSC resolution on peaceful settlement taking into account the legitimate interests of Donbass citizens. That is why today, despite the failure of the so-called “counteroffensive” by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the West attempts to save its geopolitical project “to contain Russia” and split the Russian world by continuing the supplies of weapons with increasingly advanced tactical and technical characteristics. This policy has been confirmed by EU foreign ministers during their meeting in Kiev.
For a long time, the West had silently and even approvingly observed how the criminal Kiev regime established by the putschists passed legislation to ban Russian language in the spheres of education, culture, media and daily life. Ukrainian officials publicly threatened to eliminate Russian citizens calling them “subhumans”. It has gone so far that the Canadian parliament now publicly praises accomplices of the Hitler Germany Nazi regime. These facts speak volumes.
Such actions only fuel the conflict and provoke uncontrolled worldwide proliferation of weapons. They significantly elevate the risk of a direct military confrontation of nuclear powers. All of our sobering messages are being ignored or gravely distorted for propaganda purposes.
It is obvious that the attempt to “break” Russia with Kiev’s hands is an element of the strategic policy pursued by Western countries in order to revitalize the unipolar world order. They follow the same goal in other regions of the world, too, where anyone with dissenting views is being subjected to threats and blackmailing so that nothing stands in the way of Washington’s hegemonic plans.
But Western states will never succeed. To substantiate this, I would like to say what you, esteemed Mr. President, did not let me say yesterday when you interrupted me in mid-sentence. What happened a year ago – on September 30, 2022 – was a truly life-changing and historic event, signature of the treaties on the accession of four new substituent entities to the Russian Federation. Millions of people from Donbass, as well as Zaporozhye and Kherson regions made their choice during the referenda held in full compliance with international law – to be with their Homeland. Nothing and no one (neither Kiev nor its Western masters) will ever be able to break the will of these people, their faith in truth and historical justice, their right to determine their future and their fate by themselves, and to preserve their traditions, culture and their native language.
This is yet another demonstration that however persistently the West pumps the Ukrainian regime full of weapons and keeps silent about or connives with its atrocious crimes trying to inflict damage on Russia, these attempts are failing and will always fail. As was stated by the Russian leadership, all goals and objectives of the special military operation will be achieved.
Thank you.
