Ukraine, Russia address UN General Assembly ahead of war anniversary
A special session of the UN General Assembly on Thursday is expected to adopt a resolution on peace between Russia and Ukraine.
The Assembly on Wednesday revealed the wide rift between both parties to the war one year after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
While Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba accused the Russian side of committing genocide, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, told the high-profile meeting that the West was planning to “dismember and destroy” his country.
On the first day of the two-day session, on the anniversary of the Russian invasion on Friday, Mr Kuleba presented a resolution at the UN General Assembly calling for peace and Moscow’s withdrawal.
Dozens of speeches by high-ranking officials are expected before then, including U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.
The strategy of Ukraine’s Western backers is not to put complex outlines for ending the war to a vote but to get as many countries as possible to vote “yes” to the general motion in support of peace.
In doing so, they want to build on last October’s results, when 143 countries opposed Moscow’s annexations in Ukraine and said they violated international law.
A strong result would counter accusations that there is war fatigue and crumbling support for Kyiv in some parts of the world, especially those reliant oN Russian fuel.
On Wednesday, Mr Kuleba accused Moscow of committing “genocide” in light of accusations that Ukrainian children have been forcibly deported to Russia.
He said Moscow was resettling thousands of children with Russian families in order for them to be re-educated as Russians.
“This is a genocide. And this is what we face today,” Mr Kuleba said.
Russia claims the transfer of Ukrainians to Russia is an escape from the combat zone. The Russian side also denies the abduction of children despite evidence to the contrary.
Meanwhile, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations accused Germany and the West of having motives in the Ukraine conflict similar to those in World War II.
(NAN)
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