YouSaid · the spoken record

Churkin

lines on the record: 3,923
first: 2006-05-16
most recent: 2017-02-02
sittings or episodes: 536
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“If members are not sharing information, what they are providing is not an eyewitness account, but rather fiction. That is not suitable evidence for the investigation.”
2014-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7269 (2014) · source
“The answer was based on information provided by NATO, which had said that it could have been a different anti-aircraft rocket system that is not used by the Russian army but is used by the Ukrainian army. Once again, the Security Council is not the place for members to be putting forward various hypotheses. It is a place to assist with the investigations and clarify the questions to which we want answers. I repeat, we will send our questions to the Dutch Safety Board and hope that they will be addressed credibly and transparently and that the questions will be distributed as a Security Council document. Let the entire world work collectively to ensure that this tragic incident is fully clarified without any insinuations, intimations or references to evidence that has not been brought forth.”
2014-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7269 (2014) · source
“In that case, the Security Council might do something to broaden the scope of the work and ensure that they are in contact with those who can respond to those questions. Furthermore, with regard to the exclusion of the type of aircraft in the preliminary report, I recall that representatives of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe who saw the remains in the very first days said that even an amateur could understand that the aircraft had been shot down by an air-to-air system. I am no specialist, but that is what the evidence indicated. Now if we want to talk about the versions put forward recently in the German Parliament, an answer to the question posed by a Deputy of Parliament was put forth.”
2014-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7269 (2014) · source
“We asked questions and asked for clarifications, but we did not accuse anyone, and we said that there should be investigations. Some colleagues were hasty in saying that the investigations had shown that the aeroplane was shot down by a rocket. We do not see anything about that in the preliminary report. It speaks of three civilian aircraft in the area of the Malaysian aeroplane, but we do not see any evidence stating that there was no military aircraft. With regard to the information provided by our Ministry for Foreign Affairs, we wonder if there has been any contact at all between the Board and the Ukrainian armed forces. We do not know. Perhaps, under the Board's standard working regulations, they cannot be in contact with military officers but only with civilian representatives.”
2014-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7269 (2014) · source
“Our United Kingdom colleague, for example, said that a Buk missile system with three missiles instead of four was seen, as he affirmed, moving towards Russia, and that it was that system that shot down the Malaysian aircraft. Indeed, such images were distributed by the Kyiv authorities and made their way around the world. But why would one believe that the Buk missile system was heading for Russia? The most important thing here is that it was clear from those images that the launch system was heading west, towards an area controlled by the rebels. The Kyiv authorities were therefore incriminating themselves by claiming that the Malaysian aircraft was shot down by that system. That would have meant that they had launched the missile. Once again, Russian officials have accused no one. We shared our information.”
2014-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7269 (2014) · source
“Regarding the shots fired on the monitors of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe on 14 September, for some reason people said that the rebels were responsible. That is not right. There were two shots, coming from the north, which was the position of the Ukrainian armed forces, and one of those shots happened at a border crossing point that was controlled by rebels. The rebels would not have been shooting at themselves, would they? Another issue has been raised that I do not think is appropriate for the Security Council, since we are not here to discuss various versions of what happened. However, as some colleagues have allowed themselves to get into such analyses, I must respond.”
2014-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7269 (2014) · source
“On 28 July, when Kyiv threatened to seize the area of the crash site, we proposed a draft press statement for the Security Council calling for the implementation of resolution 2166 (2014), and for some reason three Security Council members blocked it. On 7 August, when the Ukrainian Government had declared that it would bypass the ceasefire regime, and that its decision had been approved by the investigating countries, we again convened a Council meeting and called for compliance with the resolution. For some reason, Council members could not agree once again. So if security has not been upheld, Russia is not to blame. The sponsors of the Kyiv Government and their military actions are the ones to blame.”
2014-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7269 (2014) · source
“That is their right and a question of their relations with Ukraine, but Russia was ready to do everything in its power to ensure that international investigators came promptly to the crash site. Certain questions have been raised regarding security. Once again, the rebels have somehow been blamed for everything. The rebels controlled the area of the crash site. Why was there gunfire at the site? The most important security issue was ensuring that the Kyiv authorities did not attempt to seize that area in violation of resolution 2166 (2014). Moreover, Russia twice attempted to stop such incursions into the crash site so that the investigation might proceed normally.”
2014-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7269 (2014) · source
“During those phone calls, we discussed the possibility of adopting yet another Council resolution that would ensure a presence at the crash site that would guarantee the security of the investigations. Moreover, with our Australian colleagues, we even presented a draft text on that issue. I recall that we asked them if they might care like to author the draft resolution and did not insist that it be our draft, but stated that if they wanted something, there it was. We offered to adopt it that very day. However, Australia and the Netherlands took a different decision, as was their right. They decided to start negotiations with the Ukrainian side. Why did those talks go on for 10 days?”
2014-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7269 (2014) · source
“Two or three days after the crash, the black boxes were transferred entirely intact to the Malaysians present at the crash site, and the Malaysians then provided them to London. Now, how could Moscow receive those black boxes from London, when the report states that they were indeed intact? We should in fact thank the rebels that the black boxes were kept intact and transferred to the experts who are now working with them. The United States also accused Russia of blocking access to the crash site for 10 days. That is not true. The Australian delegation, I think, can underscore that this is not the case, because as soon as resolution 2166 (2014) was adopted, the question of the security of the area arose. Telephone calls were made between the President of Russia and the Prime Ministers of the Netherlands and Australia.”
2014-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7269 (2014) · source
“Then we shall continue to work with it, with the broader participation of international bodies such as the International Civil Aviation Organization, which is mentioned in resolution 2166 (2014), and draw on all the resources that the United Nations has to offer. The need for cooperation is also mentioned in the resolution. Now, some rather strange bits of information were cited that I must comment on. Our Ukrainian colleague, for example, said that rebels at the crash site attempted to somehow hide evidence, and the United States representative surprisingly quoted something a rebel had allegedly said to the effect that Moscow wanted the black boxes. If Moscow had wanted those black boxes, why did they end up London? If my colleagues are going to be so literary in their expressions, I would ask them to follow the chronology.”
2014-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7269 (2014) · source
“In the report, the Board, as the Minister for Foreign Affairs noted, very accurately, professionally and correctly formulated the targets of its work so as to prevent the recurrence of such an incident in the future, and that is quite right. However, let us be honest. We are not experts, but I think that everyone here today knows what is necessary to ensure that such a tragedy does not happen again. Flights should not be sent into conflict areas, and civilian aircraft should not be targeted. However, as our German colleague rightly stated, there are many pending questions, and these questions, we believe, lie in the area between the Dutch investigation and resolution 2166 (2014). We are not proposing abolishing the Board or creating a new one. The first thing we are going to do is send our questions to the Board.”
2014-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7269 (2014) · source
“Mr. Churkin (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): As we initiated today's meeting, and as a number of assertions have been made concerning, in one way or another, with the content of our statement and the Russian position, I would like to make a few remarks. First, in some statements, there were affirmations that Russia, in its statement in today's meeting, sought somehow to call into question the investigations conducted by the Dutch Safety Board, and that is absolutely not true. However, the Council will agree that it is somewhat strange that the Board has published a preliminary report in which there is not even one reference to resolution 2166 (2014).”
2014-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7269 (2014) · source
“The preliminary report on the causes of the crash does not address our concerns but, in fact, gives rise to new questions that the Russian side is ready to discuss with its foreign partners in a constructive way. The list of questions is something that we intend to send to the commission of inquiry and to the Secretary- General. We will distribute it as an official Security Council document.”
2014-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7269 (2014) · source
“On many occasions, we heard from a number of States that they allegedly had verified information about what happened, including satellite images of the area where the 17 July crash occurred. We call on them to disclose that information. In conclusion, I would like to underscore that Russia continues to insist on the holding of a transparent and objective international investigation in full compliance with all requirements and standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization in order to establish the truth. We believe that that goal can be achieved only with United Nations assistance and involvement in the investigation, in line with resolution 2166 (2014).”
2014-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7269 (2014) · source
“We believe that to be an act of information warfare, blatant interference into the investigation of the accident and a political attempt to predetermine the results of the investigation. The Russian Federation was the first and, in fact, only country to immediately and openly provide all available and impartial information related to the crash. The Russian Defence Ministry and the Federal Air Transport Agency not only released information but also presented a list of questions that must be answered for an objective picture of what happened. Many of those issues were put to the Ukrainian side. Unfortunately, most of those questions, including the most important, have not been answered objectively. We are convinced that an unbiased and impartial investigation will be needed to clarify all those concerns.”
2014-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7269 (2014) · source
“We must shed light on the truth regarding the incident that took place in Ukrainian air space on 17 July; it is therefore imperative to shed light not only on the root causes and the perpetrators, but also on the political circumstances that led to the disaster itself. The tragedy has been manipulated by a number of countries to exacerbate international tensions. Immediately following the incident, even before receiving any reliable information, public statements were made, in which full blame was attributed to the militants. Our country was held responsibility for the perpetration of serious international violations. Let us not forget that those actions were the grounds for the cycle of sanctions against Russia.”
2014-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7269 (2014) · source
“We are not questioning the sovereignty of the State where the event occurred - Ukraine - to arrange the investigation of the crash that took place in its air space and to address the issue of confidentiality regarding the investigation. However, pursuant to resolution 2166 (2014), the arrangement should ensure the authentically international nature of the organization of and participation in the investigation. Experts are needed from various countries to participate in the group of international experts - including Russian nationals and representatives of the Interstate Aviation Committee - to work together as a unified team with fair and equal access to all materials necessary to carry out the investigation.”
2014-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7269 (2014) · source
“We are also concerned about a certain indifference conveyed in the report regarding the issue of lack of access to the crash site. Yet it is a priority issue involving relevant tasks - indeed, urgent tasks. The debris could be of key importance in establishing the circumstances surrounding the crash of Flight MH-17; unfortunately, much important expertise on that and other aspects has not been forthcoming. After the pause on 6 August in the work of the international experts at the crash site, no journalists or OSCE observers have visited the site. It is not clear what is stopping the team from going to Donetsk now, given the ceasefire.”
2014-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7269 (2014) · source
“There is no reference at all to resolution 2166 (2014). The promised transparency is lacking. The investigation, it seems, has been entrusted to a small group of countries. There have been delays and deferrals of the process. The data on the dispatchers' voice recorders were transferred only in late August. Many questions have arisen regarding compliance with ICAO standards. The report contains no information on the work carried out by the Ukrainian military, on the voice recordings of the armed forces with the dispatchers, or on the deployment of the Ukrainian anti-aircraft system on the day of the catastrophe, and it is totally silent concerning the possible presence of fighter jets in the vicinity of the flight path of Flight MH-17.”
2014-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7269 (2014) · source
“We consider it important that the Secretary-General conduct a review and assessment of the state of affairs regarding the aforementioned issues and report on them to the Council, including with respect to the drafting and adoption of additional measures to assist the investigation. It it may be necessary to consider establishing a post of Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the matter and authorizing a relevant mission, in cooperation with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), to be sent to the crash site. Of particular relevance to United Nations participation is the current state of affairs of the investigation. The preliminary report of the Dutch Safety Board is minimally informative and contains no convincing information about the crash circumstances.”
2014-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7269 (2014) · source
“These include halting all military activities of all sides in the area of the crash site, halting all activities that could threaten the integrity of the crash site, providing swift and safe access by international staff to the crash site, and supporting the role of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to ensure that the relevant investigation is guided by the principles of international civil aviation and ICAO rules and standards. In resolution 2166 (2014), the Security Council requested the Secretary-General to recommend possible ways that the United Nations could assist the investigation and report to the Council as events unfolded. It is unfortunate that to date we have seen no sign of the recommendations or any attempt by the Secretariat to demonstrate any initiative aimed at assisting the international investigation.”
2014-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7269 (2014) · source
“Resolution 2166 (2014) sets out the modalities for conducting a comprehensive, thorough and independent international investigation. The document stipulates United Nations participation, which is particularly important to ensuring a genuine, impartial, international process and the necessary degree of transparency in the organization of the investigation. We believe that the Council has an important role to play in resolving a number of thorny issues set forth in the resolution, without which an investigation in south- eastern Ukraine cannot be conducted.”
2014-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7269 (2014) · source
“We recall that over the following days, there was much criticism of the local citizens and rebels; later, it came to light that they had in fact carried out very useful work, as recognized on 6 August by the Prime Minister of the Netherlands. On 21 July, the Council adopted resolution 2166 (2014) in support of a full, thorough and independent international investigation into the crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH-l7 in Ukraine that resulted in the deaths of298 people. The scale ofthe disaster, its political implications and consequences, and the resolution's provisions regarding the role of the United Nations and the Security Council in political arrangements for the investigation indicate that the Council must continue to monitor the issue.”
2014-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7269 (2014) · source
“Mr. Churkin (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): First, I thank you, Madam President, for convening today's meeting, which was initiated by the delegation of the Russian Federation. 1 also thank the Under-Secretary-General for his briefing and express our particular gratitude to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, a country that has undertaken the leadership role in the investigation of the tragic incident that took place in Ukraine on 17 July. It seems to me that in the Minister's statement, his words of gratitude to the local citizens were particularly important. On 17 July, they found themselves without warning involved in a tragic situation.”
2014-09-19 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7269 (2014) · source
“We believe that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is vital in that regard, especially since, as members or observers, Afghanistan and all its neighbours are involved. That reality was affirmed at the most recent SCO summit. Only by coordinating the efforts of the United Nations mission and international actors will we be able to ensure the sustainable development and the establishment of a self-sufficient State that is free from terrorism and drug crime. In conclusion, I would like to express my appreciation to Mr. Jan Kubis for his extensive work at the head of UNAMA. We hope that his experience, great professionalism and leadership qualities will still be needed by the United Nations.”
2014-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7267 (2014) · source
“We will insist that the new Afghan leadership and all those that work in the country in support of Afghanistan pay more attention to the eradciation of the drug threat, which presents a great risk to peace and security not only in Afghanistan but in the region and far beyond. That fight requires collective efforts and the abandonment of double standards and various ideologies. We can no longer tolerate the upsurge in drug production that has continued for more than 10 years of foreign presence. The countries of the region and their cooperation play an important role in the settlement of the Afghan situation. In that regard, the development of political and economic cooperation and dialogue is of particular importance.”
2014-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7267 (2014) · source
“Last year, drug trafficking netted almost $1 billion. It is clear that a large proportion of that goes to fuelling the subversive activities of terrorist and criminal groups. The Security Council is still considering its counter-narcotics initiative. We need to take into account the activities of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, in particular in that area. We should work constructively with our colleagues on the Council in order to adopt a comprehensive programme. Combating the drug problem in Afghanistan is extremely important, not only in order to prevent the increased funding of extremist and terrorist activities but also to protect the lives of our people and to prevent our young people from becoming dependent on heroin.”
2014-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7267 (2014) · source
“We hope that following the completion of the electoral cycle, the new Afghan authorities will move forward with renewed energy with the key element of normalizing the situation in the country on the basis of the three well-known principles, namely, the laying down of arms by the fighters, the recognition of the Constitution of Afghanistan and the final cutting of ties with Al-Qaida and other terrorist organizations, in full compliance with the Al-Qaida and Taliban sanctions regime. The reports of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime continur to depict a gloomy picture of the situation with regard to drug production and illicit drug traffficking in Afghanistan. It is of concern that the United Nations has affirmed that there has been a sharp drop in the eradication of opium crops.”
2014-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7267 (2014) · source
“In that context, we would like to remind the leadership of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) of its obligation under resolution 2120 (2013) to present to the Security Council in December a comprehensive, and not simply anh inconclusive quarterly report, as we are used to, on the implementation of the mandate of ISAF handed down to it by the Security Council. For impartial reasons, in the context ofthe electoral impasse, the objective of national reconciliation has been sidelined.”
2014-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7267 (2014) · source
“In the north of the country in particular, there is an increasingly negative impact on security and stability, especially of the Central Asian region. Since we have close allies and partners, that is of great concern to us. Adding to the uncertainty is the fact that we do not know the outcome of the attempts of the various actors to maintain a military presence in Afghanistan. We believe that any new forms of military presence should be carefully implemented, be acceptable to the entire Afghan people and leadership and be endorsed by the Security Council.”
2014-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7267 (2014) · source
“Anti-Government elements, terrorists and extremists of various stripes are stepping up their activity and may prepare for a decisive surge once there is no longer a foreign military presence in the country. In that regard, we reiterate our surprise that there has been not even one mention of Al-Qaida, as if that element no longer existed in Afghanistan. We are convinced that, without an objective view of today's current state of affairs, moving forward will be very challenging. Ignoring current activities and realities is not an option, in particular given ever increasing number of civilian casualties, in particular among women and children, including as a result of the strikes and operations of the coalition forces.”
2014-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7267 (2014) · source
“We support the active involvement of UNAMA, together with civil society, for its work in Afghanistan. We deem it quite unacceptable that threats are being made against the staff of the Mission. We call on the Afghan authorities to settle the post-electoral situation through peaceful means. The results of the people's choice must be announced to the people and supported by them and most political forces in Afghanistan. It is clear that resolving the issue of the future presidency is an internal matter. For our part, we are prepared to work with any leadership of Afghanistan that supports the Afghan people itself. Afghanistan is going through one of the most complex periods for its domestic security. The report notes that fact in particular, and the prospects in that area are very unclear.”
2014-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7267 (2014) · source
“We are grateful that an important milestone has been passed, the recount of the second round has taken place, and, in parallel, contacts between the candidates on power-sharing are continuing, although not always with full success. We note that in society and the political elite there is growing awareness of the need to form a Government of national unity. Without a political agreement between the candidates in that regard, it will not be easy for the Afghan people to move forward after so many years of exhausting war. Repeatedly, the risks of serious destabilization are growing. We would like to note, in particular, the work of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and its leaders in providing assistance to the Afghan people in coming out of this electoral impasse.”
2014-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7267 (2014) · source
“Mr. Churkin (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): We would like to thank Mr. Jan Kubis for the briefing on the situation in Afghanistan and for introducing the report of the Secretary-General (S/2014/656). We would also like to thank Permanent Representative Zahir Tanin for his statement. We share the concerns and anxieties that have been expressed in this Chamber in regard to the protracted post-electoral marathon. Today, as a friendly Afghanistan faces many challenges in various areas - security, State-building, socioeconomic and humanitarian - the fact that its long-suffering people is living in political uncertainty is an unacceptable luxury. Like all responsible members of the international community, we are carefully watching the situation unfolding around the summing up of the results ofthe presidential elections.”
2014-09-18 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7267 (2014) · source
“I would like to ask those who were satisfied with the result to raise their hands. The issue is not the veto, but rather a policy of adventurism, which further stokes conflicts. In conclusion, we would like to note that the current work of the Council is taking place against a whole range of deteriorating regional crises. Given that the Council has too much on its plate, we need to work towards a more in-depth and effective consideration of the issues on its agenda, related first and foremost to specific situations and countries. Today's wrap- up session seems artificial, especially since we will continue our work tomorrow with discussions on two important items. We would like to say that the British presidency did not always act correctly, although it worked a lot. We wish the United States delegation every success in September.”
2014-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7254 (2014) · source
“With respect to the situation in Gaza, the Security Council continued to act timidly. Discussions about a product expressing the reactions of the Council continued throughout the month. However, there is no result. We came away quite disappointed from yesterday's discussion of Libya (see S/PV.7251). That country is essentially in free fall. The members of the Council responsible for that situation - because they are the ones that gravely violated resolutions 1970 (2011) and 1973 (2011) - are acting as if they had nothing to do with it. They are calling on the United Nations or Libya's neighbours to do more. In that regard, we would like to raise another point. We sometimes hear that, if not for the right of veto, the Security Council would be effective in preventing or resolving conflicts. In the case of Libya, no veto was used.”
2014-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7254 (2014) · source
“On two occasions we introduced draft press statements in support of resolution 2166 (2014). Both times they were blocked by a number of Council members, who are evidently not interested in the implementation of that resolution. All we see here is an attempt to whitewash Kyiv under any circumstances. We would like once again to remind the Secretariat that, in accordance with resolution 2166 (2014), the United Nations must provide comprehensive assistance in the inquiry, as well as identify possible options for such assistance and report to the Council on relevant developments. The United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe must play a more active role, including as coordinators, in conducting a comprehensive, thorough and independent international inquiry.”
2014-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7254 (2014) · source
“However, I would like to stress that we will continue efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to the inhabitants of Luhansk and Donetsk, in cooperation with the authorities in Kyiv and the International Committee of Red Cross. We hope that our future efforts will be met with a more constructive attitude. The Security Council was unable to act with due responsibility in the matter of international support in the inquiry into the tragic crash of the Malaysian airplane. Unfortunately, we continue to see attempts to hinder the implementation of resolution 2166 (2014). For more than 10 days, the Ukrainian authorities disregarded the demand for a ceasefire in the region of the disaster, and then they officially declared a resumption of military activities.”
2014-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7254 (2014) · source
“In the course of a briefing convened at the initiative of Russia on 5 August (see S/PV.7234), representatives of United Nations humanitarian agencies provided an assessment of the situation that was closer to the reality. We welcome that development. At last, information about the real situation is beginning to seep through a wall of silence and blatant denial. We were shocked by the furious criticism and distortion of facts with regard to the convoy of Russian humanitarian assistance that was sent to Luhansk. We have already discussed more than once the reasons and purposes for our actions, and I do not wish repeat them.”
2014-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7254 (2014) · source
“Mr. Churkin (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): For Russia, the central topic of the Security Council's discussion in August was the situation in Ukraine. Unfortunately, we are forced to conclude that the Security Council, due to the destructive efforts of a number of its members, was unable to play the kind of role in resolving that crisis that is in line with its mandate as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. We saw that once again in today's discussion on Ukraine (see S/PV.7253). The draft statement proposed by the Russian delegation on a ceasefire was blocked on the basis of a frivolous pretext. Despite that opposition, we have continued throughout the month to draw the attention of the international community to the catastrophic humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine.”
2014-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7254 (2014) · source
“When they announced the so-called Poroshenko peace plan, which mentioned the need for insurgents to capitulate, did the politicians in Kyiv not understand the kind of consequences that could lead to? I do not understand this. I mean: we know our region. We know how close our ties are. That was an obvious step towards escalation and disaster, which is what we are seeing. Could they not understand that insurgents could not simply lay down their weapons, give up and leave for Russia and have Ukrainian tanks enter Luhansk and Donetsk? I do not understand. If someone had advised them to do this, then that person either did not understand what he was doing or was simply trying to provoke, trying to completely destabilize the situation in Ukraine and make life difficult for Russia.”
2014-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7253 (2014) · source
“Mr. Churkin (Russian Federation) (spoke in Russian): I would like to say a few words to our Ukrainian colleagues. First, as he did in a previous statement, hinting at Russia, the representative of Ukraine - just as the representative of the United States did - mentioned the Malaysia Airlines flight. Could he please tell the Council why Ukraine has not published the transcripts of the air traffic controllers' converstations? Could he at least tell us if they have provided them to the Dutch authorities. Secondly, I should like to make a more substantial comment - and I understand that perhaps in Washington, DC, or in Brussels they might not know about this, because for them it does not really matter whether it is Ukraine or some country in Latin America or Africa or wherever. But I am trying to understand.”
2014-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7253 (2014) · source
“"The members of the Security Council urged the international community to step up its efforts to provide humanitarian aid to the people of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine." That is the end of the draft statement by the Security Council to the press. We propose that we vote on this statement here and now around this table.”
2014-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7253 (2014) · source
“We should remember that the Council does not exist in order to spread conjecture and exchange accusations, but to take decisions that might help to resolve crises. Today we propose that Council members make the following statement to the press: "The members of the Security Council expressed serious concern about the worsening situation in south-eastern Ukraine and called for a speedy and unconditional ceasefire. The members of the Security Council called for an inclusive political dialogue on Ukraine based on the Geneva declaration of 17 April 2014 and the joint Berlin declaration of 2 July 2014. In that context, the Council noted the role of the contact group and strongly urged that the process be resumed without delay within the framework of the contact group.”
2014-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7253 (2014) · source
“For some reason, even the question of how the Ukrainians obtained recordings of their air traffic controllers' conversations is some kind of dreadful secret. Stop that speculation. Russia has been attempting to send humanitarian aid to the residents of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions who so urgently need it. Not long ago, despite the desperate opposition of various intrigue-mongering members of the Security Council, the first Russian humanitarian convoy arrived in Luhansk under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Preparations are now being finalized for dispatching a second convoy. An agreement on that was confirmed today in a telephone conversation between Russia's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sergey Lavrov, and Ukraine's Foreign Minister Klimkin.”
2014-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7253 (2014) · source
“How come American weapon systems have shown up in the Ukrainian armed forces? Our American colleague asked an eloquent question - what message can Russia's neighbours send? To my dear colleagues I say this. I would suggest that they send a message to Washington, DC. : stop interfering in the internal affairs of a sovereign State. Stop stirring up objectionable regimes. Limit your geopolitical ambitions. Then not only Russia's neighbours but many other countries all over the world would breathe more easily. And another thing: stop speculating about the downed Malaysian plane. So far Russia alone has made a contribution to the conduct of a transparent and essential investigation of that tragedy. From everyone else we have heard no information, nothing but insinuations.”
2014-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7253 (2014) · source
“We give them food, water and medical treatment and send them back to Ukraine. We hope that the Kyiv authorities are treating the nine Russian paratroopers we have heard so much about in the past 24 hours just as humanely. However, it is reported that they were detained with their own documents and with unloaded weapons, which hardly resembles a diversion force in a conflict zone. Everyone knows that there are Russian volunteers in eastern Ukraine; no one conceals the fact. One could wish that there could be similar transparency in certain other countries. Let us hear what our American colleagues have to say about what dozens of American advisers are doing in the Ukrainian Defence Council building, or how many American mercenaries from so-called private military contractors are fighting thousands of kilometres from their shores.”
2014-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7253 (2014) · source
“They are using artillery, machine guns and air attacks, using phosphorous explosives banned under international conventions and ballistic rockets. In the so-called anti-terrorist operations area there are 4 million people. Hundreds of thousands of them have been sitting in cellars without water or electricity for weeks, and food and medicines are practically unobtainable. The overall number of deaths now exceeds 2,000, and it is growing exponentially. The number of people, including refugees, who have moved from Ukraine to Russia is now more than 814,000. The media are reporting horrendous losses in the Ukrainian army, confirmed by mass protests in Ukraine against mobilization. Hundreds of Ukrainian servicemen are ending up on Russian territory for various reasons.”
2014-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7253 (2014) · source
“Only yesterday he commented on the results of the high-level meeting in Minsk, saying that Kyiv's chief goal was peace, and that they sought decisive action capable of bringing peace to Ukraine. He also spoke of some new urgent plan for resolving the crisis. Where is that plan? Or is it yet another distracting manoeuvre while concealing an attempt to resolve things by force? We hope that the Kyiv leadership will not squander the positive opportunities presented by the Minsk meeting. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian armed forces, without consideration for any standard of international humanitarian law or simple moral precepts, have been indiscriminately attacking cities, residential neighbourhoods and infrastructure targets.”
2014-08-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.7253 (2014) · source