Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has raised the issue of the killing of civilians in Bucha before the UN Security Council, urging the international community to respond. According to him, it is necessary to transform the system of the United Nations. I suggest holding a conference in Kyiv to discuss how to strengthen international law, Zelensky said, stressing that Ukraine needs Security Council resolutions. In his opinion, the current situation has two solutions.
Volodymyr Zelensky (President of Ukraine) - Russia's powers should be limited so that Moscow does not block decisions related to its aggression. Then we will do everything to establish peace. The second option is the self-dissolution of the UN. If you are not capable of anything but words, then there is no other option. Ukraine, Europe and the whole world need peace.
The Russian side answers․
Vasily Nebenzya (Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN) - We leave to your conscience the accusations against the Russian servicemen in connection with the Bucha events, which have no verifying evidence. You have all seen only what they wanted to show you. But you cannot help but see the obvious discrepancies in the versions of the Ukrainian-Western media. Those corpses were not there when the Russian troops were leaving Bucha. Hundreds, if not thousands of people are ready to testify about the crimes of neo-Nazis in Ukraine.
Nebenzya added that Russia could theoretically be removed from the UN Human Rights Council, but not the Security Council.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US Permanent Representative to the UN, stated that Russia is a member of the UN Security Council, and it is impossible to change that fact, but it is possible to isolate Moscow. “We can create an inconvenient environment for Russia in the structure, we have already done that,” she added.
White House spokesman Jen Psaki referred to Zelensky's call to remove Russia from the UN Security Council.
Jen Psaki (White House Spokesperson) - I think the President of Ukraine has expressed his frustration, which we share. However, we do not see the possibility of suspending Russia's membership to the UN Security Council.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has once again denied accusations against Russia over what happened in Bucha.
Sergey Lavrov (Russian Foreign Minister) - A question arises. What is the reason for this provocation in Bucha? In our opinion, the disruption of the Russian-Ukrainian talks, moreover, just when Kyiv presented his written vision of Ukraine's status and security guarantees.
Lavrov stressed that despite the current situation, Moscow is ready to continue the dialogue. However, if the Ukrainian delegation continues to refuse to discuss the issue of demilitarization, denazification and the Russian language, it will not contribute to the negotiation process. He also expressed concern over Kyiv’s desire to put the results of possible agreements between the two countries to a referendum.
Amid growing tensions between Moscow and Russia, the West continues to impose new sanctions on Russia and provide assistance to Ukraine. US President Joe Biden has instructed to provide $ 100 million in additional military assistance to Kyiv, which will include anti-tank systems, the White House said. According to Jen Psaki, the US authorities will also announce new restrictions on Russia, which will apply to the financial sector, government agencies, as well as to ban new investments in Russia.
“US President Joe Biden, however, is convinced that a possible war between the United States and Russia is not in Washington's interests. Our goal is to hold Moscow accountable, he added.
The EU has declared 19 employees of Russia's permanent representation in the structure a persona non grata. The statement from the Union's Foreign Policy Service states that the latter carried out activities contrary to the EU's diplomatic status. Responding to the decision, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Moscow would take reciprocal steps.
