Statement by Representative of the Russian Federation Roman Kolesnikov at the Thematic Discussion on Regional Disarmament and Security in the First Committee of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly
Madam Chair,
Regional security in various parts of the world has been put to most serious tests over recent years. Tensions are increasing, bellicose rhetoric is growing, current long-standing regional conflicts renew more intensively, new hotbeds of tension are emerging, and the "collective West" has finally chosen the path of forceful dominance in the world. Military alliances continue to expand with their activities becoming increasingly aggressive. The fundamental principle of indivisible security is being grossly violated.
These global military security trends continue to gain momentum in Europe as well. The reason is the course set by the US and its NATO allies for open confrontation with Russia, undermining the foundations of European security and breaking the comprehensive system of arms control and confidence-building measures.
NATO members continue to build up their military potential on the borders with Russia and in the immediate vicinity of our boundaries, and increase operational capabilities for transferring forces to the "eastern flank". In order to respond to the imaginary so-called "Russian threat", the numerical and combat capabilities of multinational battalion tactical groups and brigade-level formations are being increased in the Baltic countries, Black Sea region and Poland.
The total duration of NATO ships' presence in the Black Sea has been increased. Intelligence activities near our maritime and air borders in the Baltic and Black Seas have intensified while engaging multi-purpose ships, aircraft and UAVs of NATO allies and becoming more and more provocative and dangerous. Advanced coordination centres and new division-level command headquarters have been deployed in the interests of allied troops (forces) group operational deployment and engagement in the territory of Eastern Europe states. NATO military activity along the line of contact with our country has increased in scale and intensity.
For a long time, we have been doing our best to resolve the conflict in Donbass which has been ongoing since 2014, diplomatically at the negotiating table, hoping for the prudence of Western states and putting forward initiatives on security guarantees. However, the aggressive policy by the United States and its allies across the post-Soviet area, as well as their persistent support of the neo‑Nazi regime in Kiev, forced us to launch a special military operation in order to stop this bloodshed.
The United States and its allies make a grave mistake in assessing their ability to defeat Russia on the battlefield. By increasingly pumping Ukraine with weapons, providing it with intelligence, financing and training for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, not only are they dragging out military action that leads to new victims, but also bringing NATO states closer to a direct military clash with Russia. I would like to believe that our Western colleagues would finally listen to the voice of reason and turn away from this dangerous course.
Madam Chair,
Russia has always believed the system of international ACDN agreements to be the cornerstone of international security. However, this system has noticeably deteriorated recently at the whim of Western countries.
For several decades, the United States and its NATO allies have continued the process initiated to break key agreements in the field of arms control and confidence-building. Thus, Washington unilaterally terminated the Soviet‑US Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2002, withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019, and from the Open Skies Treaty in 2020, which forced us to cease participation in it. In response to the decision of Sweden and Finland to join NATO, which finally and irrevocably destroyed the CFE Treaty system of restrictions, we decided to withdraw from this Treaty in 2023.
Even a brief list of facts makes it clear who is responsible for the present very deplorable security situation and further deterioration of the military-political environment in the world.
It is possible to return the situation under control and normalize it only on the basis of compliance with the generally recognized norms of international law, the UN principles of activities, its Charter, goals and objectives.
Attempts to resume any dialogue are doomed to failure until the North Atlantic Alliance actually abandons its current anti-Russian policy. Given the current lack of trust and open hostility on the part of Washington and collective Brussels, it is unfounded and naive to expect progress from us in matters of conventional arms control in Europe. Shaping such a regime in the future, if and when it becomes possible, will definitely require fundamentally new approaches and inevitable consideration of Russia's national interests.
Thank you.
