Results of UN Security Council Meeting: Unacceptable Build-up of Russian Troops near Borders of Ukraine

The meeting of the United Nations Security Council has been an important step in deterring a new wave of Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine.

The discussion clearly demonstrated the positions and approaches of members of the international community and the UN leadership on the most serious security crisis in Europe, created as a result of Russia’s temporary occupation of Crimea and its armed aggression in Donbas.

“Despite Russia’s attempt to prevent the meeting, the Security Council has managed to properly demonstrate a responsible attitude towards preventive diplomacy in accordance with Chapter VI of the UN Charter, which authorises the Security Council to consider any situation threatening international peace and security,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine said.

The results of the meeting confirmed the principled position of the vast majority of UN Security Council members on the unacceptability of an unprecedented buildup of Russian offensive weapons, forces and equipment on the Ukrainian-Russian and Ukrainian-Belarusian borders.

Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Sergiy Kyslytsya clearly stated that Ukraine is not going to carry out any offensive operation either in the zone of the Ukrainian-Russian armed conflict in Donbas or on the border with Russia, and will do everything possible to prevent any provocations from Russia.

During the meeting, the Ukrainian delegation stressed that Ukraine requires Russia to confirm by practical actions Russia’s statements about the absence of intentions to expand armed aggression against Ukraine. No statements can replace real steps, such as the withdrawal of troops and a ceasefire.

The Russian delegation’s claim that it does not want to see Ukraine in NATO runs counter to Ukraine’s inalienable sovereign right to choose its own security measures, including alliance agreements, which Russia has no right to question.

In addition, Kyslytsya noted that the attempts of some members of the Security Council to present the discussion as a confrontation between the United States and Russia are nothing more than an attempt to divert the international community’s attention from Russia’s aggressive actions against Ukraine and Europe in general.

“We regard the fact that the Russian envoy left the hall before the end of the meeting not only as disrespect for the issue under discussion, but also as a dismissive attitude towards the UN Security Council as a body designed to consider threats to international peace and security,” the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN stressed.

Natalia Tolub