Remarks to the press by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia following adoption of UNSC resolution calling an emergency special meeting of the General Assembly on Ukraine
Q: Do you think there is a need for the Security Council to call for safe and unhindered aid access to Ukraine?
A: Look, it is not yet clear what they imply by this humanitarian resolution. When we see the text, we will be able to somehow comment on it. I cannot do it in advance. Let’s see the resolution.
Q: Do you think the people of Ukraine need support?
A: The population in Donbas was in need of support for a long time. The only country that basically provided this support was Russia. Let’s talk about it at the press conference tomorrow.
Q: Are you optimistic about the peace talks [between Ukraine and Russia]?
A: I am always optimistic, but I do not know the results yet. I do not even know if they started, because I read reports that they might start tomorrow morning (Belarus time).
Q: Can you please comment on Yemen? Will you go for a vote on Yemen tomorrow morning?
A: Let me keep intrigue. You will see it tomorrow.
Q: Have you promised UAE support for this resolution in exchange for their abstention?
A: Come on, we do not do anything in exchange unlike some our colleagues in the Security Council who shamelessly twist arms of other members of the UNSC or UNGA to make them do or vote the way they wanted, including by methods which are not diplomatic.
Q: At the beginning of your career, did you expect something like this to happen in your career as diplomat?
A: Many things happened since the beginning of my career. I had a long career.
Q: As President of the Security Council this month, how difficult was it to chair these meetings?
A: I was on a recess for two weeks because of COVID, so it was only one week for me. But it contained more than a month’s worth of events.
Q: How have you felt with the Ukraine meetings?
A: Fine. Look, we are Presidency, we have to keep the integrity of the office and I am doing what I have to do as President.
Q: What would you say to the Ukrainian Ambassador who addressed you during the meeting?
A: I do not accept the conditions that he made for taking his words back. I think his words were inappropriate from the beginning and they remain so.
