Ukraine: 'Diplomacy, not fighting, needs to escalate' -UN senior official | United Nations
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On the recent developments in Ukraine, UN senior official Miroslav Jenča said, “Diplomacy, not fighting, needs to escalate in the coming days and weeks.” Jenča told Council in New York today (01 Aug) that overnight, between 30 and 31 July, another large-scale Russian missile and drone attack hit Kyiv. At least 31 people, including five children, were reportedly killed. 159 people, including at least 16 children, were reportedly injured. The number of children injured in this attack was the highest in a single night in the city since the beginning of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion. The Assistant Secretary-General also told Council that there are reports of civilian casualties, including civilian deaths in the Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk and Rostov regions of the Russian Federation. The world body is not in a position to verify these reports but remains concerned about the increasing impact of the reported Ukrainian strikes on the civilian population in the Russian Federation. Jenča reiterated that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited under international law and must stop immediately – wherever they occur. The senior UN official also highlighted “Ukrainian people have endured nearly three and a half years of unimaginable horrors, death, devastation and destruction. They urgently need relief from this nightmare.” He reiterated the urgent call for “an immediate, unconditional, and complete ceasefire to pave the way towards a just, lasting and comprehensive peace.” “A peace that is in line with the Charter of the United Nations, international law, and relevant UN resolutions in full respect of the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders,” the senior UN official added. Jenča said, “Diplomacy, not fighting, needs to escalate in the coming days and weeks. Diplomacy that leads to real, tangible, verifiable and lasting results that would be felt by the long-suffering people on the ground.” “The United Nations remains ready to support all meaningful efforts to this end,” he concluded. For his part, Russian Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy said, “the expired princeling in Kyiv is not interested in easing the plight and suffering of his civilians, but rather in presenting such situations provoked by him presenting them as intentional Russian strikes.” “His only goal here is to save his own height and convince his sponsors to continue financial and military support to his agonizing, dictatorial and corrupted regime,” Ambassador Polyanskiy continued. He added, “The abuse of the Security Council meetings so as to shift the responsibility for the death of his own citizens, is a favorite trick of Ukraine.” The Russian Ambassador concluded by underscoring once again that his government is not against discussing the Ukrainian crisis in the Council. “We're against making the tragedy of the Ukrainians who became hostages of the Zelenskyy regime, and his maniacal will to sacrifice them on the altar of geopolitical interests that is exploited in the Council for political reasons,” he said. “ It's disrespectful and indifferent to the suffering of tens of thousands of people who are dying and suffering in other areas of the world, and Western members of Security Council are in no hurry to ask for meetings on that,” Ambassador Polyanskiy said. Khrystyna Hayovyshyn, Chargée d’Affaires of Ukraine to the United Nations also spoke at the Council. She said, “Once again, the world witnessed Russia’s response to our desire for peace, shared with the United States and Europe: new killings, more destroyed homes.” “It is a deliberate campaign to terrorize civilians and destroy any notion of normal life in Ukraine,” the Ukrainian diplomat said. She continued, This effort is propped up by Iran and the DPRK, in blatant defiance of numerous Security Council resolutions. These regimes supply Moscow with drones, missiles, and ammunition, while Chinese companies continue to provide dual-use goods and equipment – contributions that further fuel Russia’s ability to wage war and deepen the suffering inflicted on the Ukrainian people.” Chargée d’Affaires Hayovyshyn pointed out, “Russia awaits the international law to be defeated, they believe that the world will look away and that justice will be avoided.” “Don’t push the horses. This will not be the case,” she said, adding that “Russian illusions will shatter against the unbreakable resiliency of the Ukrainian people. Russian illusions will shatter against the unyielding will of the international community. Because we stand united in defense of justice and freedom.”
