While Russia denies its role as an aggressor in the Donbas conflict and pretends to be a mediator in the peace process, there are no prospects for constructive negotiations and the return of peace to eastern Ukraine, according to Sergiy Kyslytsya, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations.
He made such a statement during the UN General Assembly debate on agenda item “Situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine” on Tuesday, February 23, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.
“It is crucial to constantly remind Moscow of its obligations as a party to the conflict. Until Russia denies its role in the conflict, the prospects of peaceful resolution will remain elusive,” Kyslytsya said.
In this regard, he said that statements by Russian officials about Moscow’s alleged “mediation” role in the Donbas peace process were outrageous.
“Russia has not been and cannot, in principle, be a mediator in the conflict it has started and continues to take part in since the first day of aggression,” he said.
Kyslytsya also noted that Russia should not be allowed to use its veto power at UN Security Council meetings, because Russia is not even mentioned in Article 23 of the UN Charter on the composition of the Council.
The diplomat recalled that according to the latest UN data, as a result of Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine, more than 13,000 people have died, including more than 3,000 civilians, tens of thousands have been injured, and about 1.5 million have become internally displaced persons.
“Security remains the crucial element of the de-escalation. Until a 400-km section of the state border in the conflict zone remains open for a free flow of Russian weaponry and personnel, the situation will remain tense and fragile,” Kyslytsya said.
In this context, he reiterated the need to introduce a UN peacekeeping mission in Ukraine. “Sovereign control of Ukraine over its state border should be renewed and UN Peacekeepers, as one of the options, could play an important role in its monitoring,” he said.
Kyslytsya also said that joint efforts could help not only restore Ukraine’s territorial integrity, but also strengthen the authority of international law, and return peace and stability to the European continent.
(c) Ukrinform
Don’t expect anything from the Useless Nations, except hot air and waffling. First of all, Ukraine should tell the UN, and EU that they don’t recognise Muscovy as a mediator, and refuse to be involved in the equally useless Normandy format and Minsk agreements.