Statement by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia prior to the UNSC Vote on the US-Drafted Resolution on Ukraine
Mr. President,
In general, we consider the US draft resolution on the Ukrainian crisis as a common-sense initiative, a step in the right direction, which reflects the will of the new administration in the White House to make a real contribution to a peaceful settlement of the conflict. We appreciate what President Trump has repeatedly stated – namely, the understanding that the Ukrainian crisis has its deeply rooted causes.
In order to make sure that this initiative is more in line with the understandings reached in the course of Russian-American contacts at the high and highest levels, we propose an amendment to it stating the need to eradicate the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis. After “swift end of the conflict” insert “including addressing its root causes.” Without this, there can be no sustainable and lasting settlement, as stipulated in the document's only operative paragraph.
We also submit a second amendment, which is a more accurate reflection of the Security Council agenda item under consideration and that of the nature of the crisis. We propose that in the preambular paragraph, “Russian Federation-Ukraine conflict” should be replaced with “the conflict around Ukraine”; and in the only operative paragraph, “a just, lasting and comprehensive peace between Ukraine and Russia” should be replaced with “a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in Ukraine”.
We cannot agree with the interpretation of the conflict as an exclusively two-way confrontation, whereas, as became clear a long time ago, it is the Western (primarily European) sponsors that are acting through the Kiev regime. Presenting this as a Russian-Ukrainian conflict is a very convenient view of the world, and it is comfortable for them to hide behind it. Otherwise, they would have to acknowledge the unsightly role they played in the genesis of the Ukrainian conflict.
And we call on the Council members to support these amendments.
As regards the amendments submitted by European countries, they blatantly distort the essence of the American text, turning it into yet another anti-Russian ultimatum in the spirit of the Bürgenstock process. We are going to vote against them and call on others to follow suit.
Thank you.
