UNITED NATIONS: The United States and its allies plan to step up criticism of Russia for its war in Ukraine on Thursday and press other countries to join in their strong condemnations of the conflict.
A day after President Joe Biden attacked Russian leader Vladimir Putin for what he called gross violations of the United Nations Charter and international law, the United States will take the case to the UN. security Council that Russia should face more censorship and isolation for its invasion, senior US officials have said.
Officials said Secretary of State Antony Blinker will confront his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov at a council meeting with a litany of allegations of war crimes and other atrocities and call out countries that have not yet denounced them forcefully as an affront to the international order. Officials spoke on condition of anonymity in order to preview what they expect to be a 15-minute presentation by Blinken.
An official said Blinken would lay out what the Biden administration considers a compelling case that the war has not only caused massive destruction to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, but has exacerbated several other global crises, including potential famines. and energy shortages, as well as distracted from efforts to improve international health, fight climate change and reduce poverty.
The official said Blinken will highlight recent developments, including Russia’s mobilization of new troops, threats to use nuclear weapons and new efforts to annex parts of Ukraine. Blinken will also say that the Security Council has a “special responsibility” and obligation to denounce actions that threaten its credibility and relevance as the most powerful organ of the UN, the official said.
Despite the campaign, however, the official said Blinken had no illusions that the council would act against Russia, given its veto power as a permanent member. Instead, the official said the goal was to convince fellow members to impress upon Moscow the global damage caused by the war and demand that it end.
On Wednesday, Ukraine’s president presented a detailed case against Russia’s invasion at the United Nations and demanded punishment from world leaders in a speech delivered just hours after Moscow made an extraordinary announcement that it would mobilize reservists for the war effort.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed in a video address to world leaders that his forces would not stop until they reclaimed all of Ukraine.
“We can return the Ukrainian flag throughout our territory. We can do it with force of arms,” Zelenskyy said. “But we need time.”
A day after President Joe Biden attacked Russian leader Vladimir Putin for what he called gross violations of the United Nations Charter and international law, the United States will take the case to the UN. security Council that Russia should face more censorship and isolation for its invasion, senior US officials have said.
Officials said Secretary of State Antony Blinker will confront his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov at a council meeting with a litany of allegations of war crimes and other atrocities and call out countries that have not yet denounced them forcefully as an affront to the international order. Officials spoke on condition of anonymity in order to preview what they expect to be a 15-minute presentation by Blinken.
An official said Blinken would lay out what the Biden administration considers a compelling case that the war has not only caused massive destruction to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, but has exacerbated several other global crises, including potential famines. and energy shortages, as well as distracted from efforts to improve international health, fight climate change and reduce poverty.
The official said Blinken will highlight recent developments, including Russia’s mobilization of new troops, threats to use nuclear weapons and new efforts to annex parts of Ukraine. Blinken will also say that the Security Council has a “special responsibility” and obligation to denounce actions that threaten its credibility and relevance as the most powerful organ of the UN, the official said.
Despite the campaign, however, the official said Blinken had no illusions that the council would act against Russia, given its veto power as a permanent member. Instead, the official said the goal was to convince fellow members to impress upon Moscow the global damage caused by the war and demand that it end.
On Wednesday, Ukraine’s president presented a detailed case against Russia’s invasion at the United Nations and demanded punishment from world leaders in a speech delivered just hours after Moscow made an extraordinary announcement that it would mobilize reservists for the war effort.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed in a video address to world leaders that his forces would not stop until they reclaimed all of Ukraine.
“We can return the Ukrainian flag throughout our territory. We can do it with force of arms,” Zelenskyy said. “But we need time.”
