Accusations of genocide and criticism of German tanks

While Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba accused Russia of genocide at the high-level meeting in New York on Wednesday (local time), Russia’s UN Ambassador Vasily Nebensia said the West wanted to “cut up and destroy” his country . Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned of an escalation of the conflict and the use of nuclear weapons. Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock will also address the general meeting this Thursday.

A year after the start of the war, Kuleba presented a resolution to the largest UN body calling for peace and Moscow’s withdrawal, which will be adopted on Thursday. The draft reaffirms a number of previously agreed positions of the General Assembly, such as Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Kiev and its supporters want to build on similar voting results from last year with more than 140 “yes” votes – this should also counter the impression that parts of the world are war-weary and support for Kiev is crumbling.

In his speech, Kuleba denounced the mass kidnappings of Ukrainian children through Moscow. Russia is deporting thousands of children to be adopted by Russian families and re-educated as Russians. “This is genocide and we are facing it today.” Moscow recently denied similar allegations. The departure of many Ukrainians to Russia is presented as an escape from the combat zone. The kidnapping of children is also denied by Russia, despite evidence to the contrary. When children are brought to Russia, the reason is often medical treatment or recreation.

Meanwhile, Russia’s representative Nebensia also targeted Germany and the West, accusing them of motives similar to those in World War II. “This is a war that, like 80 years ago, involves an insidious and powerful enemy who wants to take over our country and subjugate us.” Among other things, the West wants to achieve the end of Russia by arming Ukraine. “The German tanks will kill Russians again,” Nebensia said.

After twelve months of war, UN chief Guterres drew a pessimistic balance: “In the past year we have not only seen the suffering and devastation increase, it is also becoming increasingly clear how much worse it can get”. The possible consequences of a conflict spiral are a clear and present danger. “Since then we have heard implied threats to use nuclear weapons. The so-called tactical use of nuclear weapons is absolutely unacceptable.”

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield campaigned for the resolution to be passed: “We have before us a resolution calling upon the nations of the world to support diplomatic efforts to secure a comprehensive and lasting peace in Ukraine. reach,” she said. EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell stressed that the war was not a “European affair” – “Nor is it about the West against Russia. No, this illegal war affects everyone: the North, the South, the East and the West.”

Behind the scenes at the UN, discussions have been going on in recent months about how substantial a resolution on the anniversary of the invasion could be. According to UN sources, Ukraine had been working on resolutions outlining a war crimes tribunal and a text that would translate a ten-point peace plan by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy into a UN document. Both ideas were scrapped for the vote, expected Thursday.

The text now available contains rather vague formulations about the end of the war: reaching a comprehensive peace, which is necessary, would “make an important contribution to strengthening world peace and international security,” it says. It also calls for a full exchange of prisoners of war and stresses that those responsible for the most serious war crimes must be held accountable.

According to diplomats, a result with the consent of more than 130 or even 140 countries seems possible. The vote is expected on Thursday afternoon (local time).

(SDA)

Source: Blick