Explanation of vote by First Deputy Permanent Representative Dmitry Polyanskiy prior to the vote on the UNGA draft resolution “Safety and security of nuclear facilities of Ukraine, including the ZNPP
Mr. President,
Distinguished colleagues,
When many of the UN member States received an invitation to June’s pseudo-peace and pseudo-global get-together in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, they asked for our assessment of this venture. We urged our colleagues not to cherish any illusions about the true intentions of its organizers. And those intentions were plain to see. They wanted by hook or by crook to cajole as many countries as possible into coming to pose for a group photo in order to create the appearance of universal support for the Kiev regime and its Western sponsors. Besides, it was obvious from the very beginning that this get-together was centered around the so-called "Zelensky peace formula", or better pseudo-peace formula, which, as we know, is not actually aimed at peaceful settlement and is nothing more than an attempt to present Russia with an ultimatum. In order to lure anyone other than Western countries and their satellites to Switzerland, the agenda included only three seemingly innocuous aspects of the so-called peace effort, including the issue of ensuring nuclear safety and security, which is of concern to many. The organizers, however, as we were told, portrayed the gathering as a one-time event with no implications or follow-up. That was a pivotal moment for those who out of courtesy showed up at that EU and NATO cronies’ get-together.
Colleagues, we now have the opportunity to see for ourselves that our Western colleagues cannot be trusted even when it comes to some trifling matters. Today, before your eyes, a draft resolution provocatively entitled "Safety and Security of nuclear facilities in Ukraine, including the ZNPP" has been pushed through in the General Assembly. Although disguised, the primary goal of the resolution is fairly clear. Its sponsors are seeking to endorse the outcomes of the meeting in the Alps with the blessing from the General Assembly, and thus promote the false Western narrative about the source of threats to nuclear facilities in Ukraine.
I believe it is obvious to all sensible people present here that such sensitive and technical issues should be discussed in the UN Office in Vienna under the auspices of the Agency, which possesses the relevant mandate, expertise and competence to do so. Such discussions has taken place there on a regular basis. In addition, Rafael Grossi, the IAEA Director General, formulated seven pillars of nuclear safety and security, as well as five principles for ensuring the safety and security at the ZNPP (he presented them to the Security Council). The principle that there should be no attack of any kind from or against the plant has been constantly violated by Ukraine, which the Agency's experts working at the ZNPP with the consent of Russia are able to verify. And evidence abounds - right now am holding the wreckage of a Ukrainian UAV that attacked the ZNPP on April 7. We will not go into the details of these regular and numerous attacks now, as our country regularly provides the UN Security Council, the IAEA Secretariat and the entire international community with data on the real situation at the ZNPP and its adjacent territories. Mr. Grossi himself regularly briefs the international community on the situation at the ZNPP, including attacks on this Russian facility, and periodically reports on the situation to the UN Security Council.
The sponsors of the draft are well aware of the position of Mr. Grossi and his team, they realize that the IAEA did not support the final document concluded in Bürgenstock. However, the lack of endorsement by the relevant specialized international body does not bother them. After all, under this cover-up of "pseudo-nuclear" agenda they actually want to push through merely political issues unrelated to the problem under discussion. Even a cursory glance at this text is enough to get convinced of that. To achieve their goal, they are ready to sacrifice much and even undermine the IAEA's efforts to ensure the nuclear safety and security of the ZNPP.
Apart from this, I would like to stress the following. Realizing what a dirty game they were playing, the authors of this opus decided to resort to non-inclusive and non-transparent methods while drafting the resolution. As you are well aware, they flatly refused to consider any amendments proposed by a large number of delegations calling for depoliticizing the draft. Many colleagues complained to us that they had only learned of the vote shortly before, and due to such unscrupulous methods they had been unable to consult with their capitals.
If Kiev were truly interested in nuclear safety and security, it would not be launching regular reckless attacks on the ZNPP, related infrastructure, and the city of Energodar, where plant employees and their families live. That is the only real threat to nuclear facilities in Ukraine today. However, there is not a single word about it in the draft put to a vote today, which once again proves that it is divorced from reality.
Colleagues,
And it is not the main harm of the text proposed by Ukrainians. After all, thanks to the efforts of the Kiev regime and its sponsors, the General Assembly has unfortunately adopted many documents that are non-consensual, politicized and do not reflect reality. Make no mistake: votes in favor of today's draft will be regarded by Kiev, Washington, Brussels and London as evidence of support for their policy of further escalating the Ukrainian conflict to the detriment of steps taken by a sensible part of the international community to find a peaceful, sustainable and long-term solution to the conflict. And this means that another tens, if not hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians who have long been unwilling to fight will be caught on the street and thrown into a senseless meat grinder to serve Western geopolitical interests and the personal interests of Zelensky’s clique that has usurped power in Kiev. Let us together prevent them from translating their disastrous scenario for Ukraine into action.
We call on sensible members of the General Assembly to clearly express their attitude towards yet another harmful and highly politicized initiative by Ukraine and its sponsors and to vote against the draft resolution.
Thank you.
