YouSaid · the spoken record

Yelchenko

lines on the record: 1,640
first: 1997-12-19
most recent: 2019-07-16
sittings or episodes: 226
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

“Russia's neighbours know all too well how skilfully the country is using a humanitarian pretext to interfere in internal affairs and to invade. We learned this not from the Finns, the Poles or the Georgians but from our own experience. While we were under Soviet domination, Moscow applied forced Russification and moved Russian settlers to non-Russian areas. Now, under the pretext of protecting ethnic Russians and all Russian-speakers, Moscow is trying to restore its domination by meddling in the internal affairs of other countries and annexing territories. We know all too well in Donbas and in South Ossetia and Abkhazia that Russian tanks and rocket launchers are Moscow's favourite tools for protecting Russian- speakers.”
2019-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8516 (2019) · source
“Russia's purpose is clear - to destabilize Ukraine, even more so in this post-electoral period, and ruin the Minsk agreements, all of which is in direct defiance of the consistent calls by the international community demanding that the parties refrain from taking any unilateral steps that might undermine the Minsk process. The illegal issuance of passports to Ukrainian citizens also means that the Kremlin recognizes its occupation of Ukrainian territories in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and is in fact making another step towards the annexation of that occupied territory. By its decision, Russia once again debunks the narrative of its own propaganda that this is a so-called internal conflict in Ukraine.”
2019-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8516 (2019) · source
“Council members will recall the meeting less than three months ago, on 12 February (see S/PV.8461), when the Russian representative was going out of his way to convince everybody that the Ukrainian side was sabotaging the implementation of the agreements. We were accused of - and I quote the Russian representative - "venturing new provocations that threaten only to worsen the situation and ruin the peace process" (ibid., p. 10). It is indeed true that actions speak louder than words. Are there any doubts in anyone's mind as to who is responsible for stalling the implementation of the Minsk agreements? The answer should be obvious.”
2019-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8516 (2019) · source
“Does Russia not realize that it is responsible for undermining the peaceful settlement process in the eastern part of Ukrainian Donbas? I think the Kremlin realizes all of that very well but is doing it on purpose. Implementation of the Minsk agreements was never the intention of the Russian side. Destabilization and fragmentation of Ukraine has been the crystal-clear intent behind its every move during the last five years. But Russia will bear responsibility for its actions. That is why reinforcing international pressure on the Kremlin, including new targeted sanctions against the aggressor State, should be our shared endeavour. That is the way to bring Russia back onto the path of implementation of its obligations under the Minsk agreements. That is the way to peaceful settlement in eastern Donbas.”
2019-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8516 (2019) · source
“Importantly, distributing Russian passports in the occupied territories will make it practically impossible to conduct legitimate local elections there in accordance with the Ukrainian legislation and relevant OSCE standards under the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights monitoring, as envisaged by the Minsk agreements. I also have a specific question for Ambassador Nebenzia. (spoke in Russian) Would he also find nothing unusual about a situation in which the citizens of border areas in Russia were systematically given passports en masse by other States? This is, instead, a story about how difficult life has become for people in Donbas. (spoke in English) Does the Russian leadership not realize that its actions totally disrupt the Minsk agreements? Does Russia not realize what kind of ticking time bomb it is planting?”
2019-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8516 (2019) · source
“Indeed, the illegitimate decree of the Russian President completely undermines the logic of the Minsk agreements and, in fact, makes their implementation practically impossible. Council members must judge for themselves. The purpose of the Minsk agreements is the reintegration of the temporarily occupied areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions into the legal, political and economic space of Ukraine. In contrast, the logic of the Russian President's decree is disintegration and consolidation of total Russian control over the occupied territories. Are those not clear signs of a creeping annexation?”
2019-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8516 (2019) · source
“Distributing Russian passports en masse in that region can easily be used by the Kremlin to legitimize its military presence in Ukrainian territory in the name of protecting would-be Russian citizens. The Kremlin's decision is clear proof that Moscow is choosing that scenario. It is nothing but a thinly veiled attempt to justify the ongoing occupation of those territories, to wrest them from Ukraine and dismember my country. It is nothing but an artificial pretext to continue sending Russian troops to Ukraine and sustain the undisguised military aggression against my country. It is nothing but a premeditated and concerted effort to undercut prospects for a peace settlement on the basis of the full and proper implementation of the Minsk agreements.”
2019-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8516 (2019) · source
“Most of them are citizens of the Russian Federation. In accordance with the Constitution and federal laws [of Russia], as the President ofthe Russian Federation, I have to defend the lives and dignity of Russian citizens, no matter where they are. The logic of our actions now is defined by these circumstances. We will not allow the death of our compatriots to go unpunished. Those responsible will be brought to account." Council members know the rest. More than 10 years after the conflict, Georgia's territorial integrity has yet to be restored and the Geneva International Discussions, launched in 2008 with participation of the United Nations, the OSCE and the European Union, have yet to bear fruit. Now let us return to the situation in the Ukrainian Donbas.”
2019-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8516 (2019) · source
“That is why it decided to switch from the five-year-old mantra "they are not there" to the revanchist slogan "our citizens are there". We heard that before the Second World War, we heard that in Georgia and we all know where that slogan leads. The provocative and destabilizing nature of the decision of the Russian side becomes obvious after even a cursory glance at the Russian-Georgian conflict in South Ossetia. Here are some facts. In 2006, more than 90 per cent of the residents of the Georgian region of South Ossetia held Russian citizenship. On 8 August 2008, with the beginning ofhostilities in South Ossetia, the Russian President made the following statement at the meeting of the country's Security Council. It is worth recalling: "NowinSouthOssetia,peacefulpeople-women, children, elderly - are dying.”
2019-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8516 (2019) · source
“The agreements clearly state Russia's commitments - stop the shelling, withdraw Russian troops and armaments, free Ukrainian hostages and return the control of the State border to Ukraine. In that regard, Russia's categorical refusal to support the initiative of Ukraine and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to launch an Easter armistice starting on 26 April is not accidental. In addition, the Kremlin has deliberately and cynically violated international humanitarian law, which prohibits the occupation's authorities from changing the citizenship of the inhabitants of the occupied territories. Why? Because the Russian Federation cannot hide any more the presence of its regular military and mercenaries in Donbas or conceal its lead role in the armed conflict there.”
2019-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8516 (2019) · source
“The fake elections in 2014 and 2018, organized by the Kremlin in breach of its obligations under the Minsk agreements, the introduction of the ruble zone, the expropriation of Ukrainian enterprises, the official recognition of documents issued by illegal bodies, the incidents of piracy, the capture of Ukrainian sailors in Ukrainian territorial waters and now the decree are all different pieces of one puzzle - Russia's creeping occupation of Ukraine. As stressed by the President okaraine, the signing of the decree is yet another example of interference by the Russian Federation in the internal affairs of an independent State. It is a brutal violation of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of Ukraine. It is also a wholesale dismissal by Russia ofits obligations in the framework of the Minsk agreements.”
2019-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8516 (2019) · source
“For example, when Soviet planes were bombing a neighbouring country, then Minister for Foreign Affairs Molotov insisted that the bombers were not dropping bombs but rather food for the starving. It looks like our Russian colleagues are making their arguments with exactly the same logic. In the distorted reality of hybrid war, the Kremlin seems to be bringing to life George Orwell's satire, in which war is peace, freedom is slavery and ignorance is strength. It is impossible to explain otherwise how a transparent and cynical passport gambit could be made to look like a humanitarian act. Yesterday's decree is yet another appalling episode in a chain of events designed to grab the Russian- occupied territories from Ukraine.”
2019-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8516 (2019) · source
“Germany and France will have to play an important role not to allow any attempts to review the Minsk agreements." Shall we take it that the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing? I doubt it. That is the usual behaviour of Russia - double-speak and putting the blame on others. On 26 November 2018, when speaking before the Council (see S/PV.8410), I compared the Russian aggression in Ukraine to the Soviet dirty war against its neighbour in 1939. Unfortunately, history seems to be repeating itself. The Russian Federation is steadily embarking on the same road that led to the expulsion of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics from the League of Nations. Like the Russian representative today, the Soviet diplomats at the time would stop at nothing to offer excuses for Moscow's flagrant violation of international law.”
2019-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8516 (2019) · source
“President, it is the usual Russian-style subversive diplomacy that the Council is accustomed to by now - cynical misinterpretation, manipulation, lies and disinformation. I am once again fascinated by the talented foresight of Mr. Nebenzia, who knows in advance what I am going to say. Just consider this. Only yesterday, when Putin was signing the decree, his Minister for Foreign Affairs was delivering a statement at - just imagine ~ the Moscow Conference on International Security. That is such a nice title. He said: "We hope the new Ukrainian leadership will realize its responsibility and will contribute to the settlement of the crisis by fully implementing the Minsk package of measures within the Trilateral Contact Group and the Normandy format, in full accordance with Security Council resolution 2202 (2015).”
2019-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8516 (2019) · source
“Mr. President, we appreciate your swift reaction and that of your team and the convening of this briefing at such short notice, at the request of our delegation. I thank the members of the Security Council who condemned the illegitimate decree of the Russian President. I could wish the briefers had focused more on that specific issue, which is the main purpose of today's meeting, but I will try to fill that gap. I ask the indulgence ofthe Council because I will probably take a little more time than the sand in the hourglass permits. The Council has already heard the Russian attempt to sell the decree to the wider United Nations membership. As you have already mentioned, Mr.”
2019-04-25 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8516 (2019) · source
“In conclusion, I wish to reaffirm Ukraine's commitment to ensuring the full implementation of the women and peace and security agenda, promoting women's rights and protecting women from sexual and gender-based violence.”
2019-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8514 (2019) · source
“The Government of Ukraine has enhanced its efforts to ensure the protection of women's human rights and women's empowerment in all spheres of public life, as well as the necessary support for, and reintegration of, women victims who have suffered from sexual violence as a result of the Russian aggression. In that light, I must once again reiterate our regret at the omission of the reference to the Ukrainian- Russian armed conflict and its victims in the Secretary- General's latest thematic report (S/2019/280). In that regard, we would like to recall our request for a United Nations special mission to investigate sexual crimes committed in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine in the context of that conflict.”
2019-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8514 (2019) · source
“In 2018, the Government of Ukraine updated the national action plan and integrated some aspects of the strategy for the prevention of and response to conflict- related sexual Violence in Ukraine. The action plan, inter alia, includes education and training programmes for the security sector on prevention, protection and response aspects; psychological assistance and a rehabilitation programme for survivors of conflict- related sexual violence; and an information campaign on the prevention of sexual violence. For the first time, the Government action plan for 2018 outlined the priority of introducing gender advisers and gender mainstreaming in higher education institutions in the security and defence sector.”
2019-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8514 (2019) · source
“Ukraine attaches great importance to the equal and full participation of women in all activities in the areas of national security, conflict prevention and resolution, peacebuilding and peacekeeping. Practical steps are being taken to integrate the women and peace and security agenda into the ongoing security and defence reform in my country. The active integration of gender equality into the activities of the armed forces of Ukraine, within the framework of the national action plan for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) for the period 2016-2022, has fostered changes to the list of military specializations and positions open to women candidates.”
2019-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8514 (2019) · source
“The report of the Secretary-General (S/2019/280) before us today clearly indicates that structural gender inequalities and discrimination are at the core of conflict-related sexual violence. In that regard, we proceed from the conviction that the path towards the prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls lies first in the genuine empowerment of women and their greater engagement at all levels of decision-making processes. Equally important is the task of guaranteeing the victims of sexual violence the right to justice and live in peace and dignity, free from stigmatization and any form of discrimination. Impunity for those crimes is rust on the moral image of any society and should be eradicated.”
2019-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8514 (2019) · source
“Since the establishment of the mandate of the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict 10 years ago, the Security Council has adopted five resolutions focused, first and foremost, on the prevention of conflict-related sexual violence. Nevertheless, the issue continues to plague vulnerable communities and, often times, entire societies, which are exposed to all kinds of violence and abuse in conflicts. It is therefore imperative that the international community and the Security Council in particular continue to look for the most effective ways to enhance the implementation of the existing resolutions on the women and peace and security agenda in order to tackle and prevent atrocities from being committed, as well as ensure accountability.”
2019-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8514 (2019) · source
“Let me express my appreciation to the German presidency for holding this open debate. I would also like to thank Special Representative Pramila Patten and the representatives of civil society for their moving testimonies. It is worth mentioning that Ukraine aligns itself with the statement to be delivered by the observer of the European Union. Unfortunately, almost 20 years after the adoption of resolution 1325 (2000), not all the objectives of the women and peace and security agenda have been achieved. The tragic reality of sexual violence against men, women, girls and boys continues to constitute a part of the fabric of each and every armed conflict around the globe, regardless of whether it is internal or external in nature.”
2019-04-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8514 (2019) · source
“I should like to recall the statement delivered by my President at the aforementioned Action for Peacekeeping high-level event that a multinational peacekeeping force under Security Council mandate, if deployed, could become a decisive factor in bringing peace to Ukraine. Today, we would like to see the United Nations peacekeeping potential be put to use in resolving the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Ukraine, for its part as a peace-loving nation, will continue to be an active participant in the United Nations peacekeeping endeavours, including by widening the geography of its presence in operations around the world.”
2019-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8508 (2019) · source
“I am confident that as a result of such reforms, we will see more women from Ukraine in United Nations peacekeeping operations. Nowadays, Ukrainian women contribute greatly to peace operations in different hotspots, but they do even more to protect their own land from foreign aggression, including by serving in the Joint Forces Operation in the Ukrainian Donbas. It is very symbolic that Ukraine, exactly like Ukrainian peacekeepers, has done its best to uphold international peace and security by participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations. Now, we expect the United Nations and its peacekeeping operations to do the same by putting an end to the suffering of Ukraine's people in the conflict unleashed against my country.”
2019-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8508 (2019) · source
“With the entry into force last October of the Law on Gender Equality Between Men and Women During Military Service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Other Military Formations, women now have the opportunity to enter into contract for military service and to enjoy equal access to military ranks, positions and equal responsibility during their service. Moreover, the revised national action plan for the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000) includes important provisions aimed at increasing women's participation in peacebuilding processes and peacekeeping operations, conducting a gender assessment and providing gender-responsive services to people affected by conflict, ensuring human rights and the protection of women's rights.”
2019-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8508 (2019) · source
“I should underline that Ukraine is also incorporating gender parity positive changes in developing legislation, planning and budgeting, as well as in integrating the subject of women, peace and security in the ongoing security and defence sector reform. The numbers speak for themselves. Over the course of past five years the number of female servicemen reached the mark of 10.6 per cent, which is about 25,000. As of today, there are about 70 women in the rank of colonel serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.”
2019-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8508 (2019) · source
“In this regard, we would like to express our gratitude for and satisfaction with the information provided by the Secretary-General on practical steps taken to implement the gender parity strategy for uniformed personnel in peace operations. My country has always been a strong and reliable partner of the Organization in peacekeeping activities. Ukrainian peacekeepers, women and men alike, were part of a number of United Nations peacekeeping success stories. Among the most recent was the United Nations Mission in Liberia, in which the Ukrainian contingent, equipped with attack and military-transport helicopters, took active part from the beginning.”
2019-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8508 (2019) · source
“Therefore, we strongly support comprehensive and decisive actions aimed at the improvement of the United Nations peacekeeping pillar's efficiency, thereby giving our Organization appropriate abilities to address contemporary challenges in the peace and security domain. It is true also that in order to secure peace and stability, our Organization must be proactive and preventive in its actions. We welcome and fully support the efforts of the Secretary-General to implement robust United Nations reform aimed at strengthening its peace and security architecture. My delegation fully supported the Action for Peace initiative at the high- level event organized by the Secretary-General on that initiative in September 2018. We believe that gender parity must remain an integral part of such action.”
2019-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8508 (2019) · source
“That is a luxury the world cannot really afford, as year after year it continues to face a growing number of challenges to international peace and security, including those that gave rise to the very emergence of the Organization - inter-State conflicts and military aggression. At the same time, it is also clear that the United Nations can be and on many occasions has been efficient in terms of safeguarding international peace and security. It has at its disposal peacekeeping operations - a reliable and commonly used instrument for curbing and preventing conflicts and ensuring sustaining peace.”
2019-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8508 (2019) · source
“I am pleased to join representatives of States with an outstanding peacekeeping record in expressing our sincere gratitude to you, Mr. President, for organizing today's important debate and for Germany's dedication and support of United Nations peacekeeping. As I am about to deliver a statement in my national capacity, I would also like to highlight that Ukraine aligns itself with the statement to be delivered by the observer of the European Union. As we are approaching the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations next year, we should be honest with ourselves and our peoples: we all know very well the list ofmissed opportunities and the scope ofunimplemented potential of the Organization.”
2019-04-11 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8508 (2019) · source
“The issue of bringing to account not only individuals and organizations but also those States responsible for organizing, financing or otherwise supporting terrorist activities should be duly dealt with. The sanctions imposed on the aggressor State should be maintained and further strengthened. The perpetrators of heinous terrorist acts must be brought to justice.”
2019-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8496 (2019) · source
“Considering that Islamic extremism had never been part of the history of the Crimean peninsula before the Russian occupation, the frequency with which the occupation authorities use that accusation to justify their searches and detention of Crimean Tatar individuals strongly suggest that it is a pretext for discrimination, in blatant violation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Those and other violations of the international legal framework prove, time and again, that combating the activities of individual terrorists and terrorist groups will be insufficient if the problem of State-sponsored terrorism is not effectively and comprehensively addressed.”
2019-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8496 (2019) · source
“In temporarily occupied Crimea, the aggressor State discredits international efforts, including those of the Council, to counter terrorism, by producing fake accusations of terrorist activities and by illegally sentencing innocent people. Just few days ago, on the fifth anniversary of the adoption of General Assembly resolution 68/262, entitled "Territorial integrity of Ukraine", the Russian occupation authorities again chose to use the so-called Hizb ut-Tahrir case - already used to fabricate cases against Crimean Tatar activists and their subsequent convictions - as a pretext for punitive actions against them.”
2019-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8496 (2019) · source
“The reports of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine and the United Nations human rights mission in Ukraine confirm the continuous flow of ammunition, weaponry and fighters from the Russian Federation to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Those military assets are delivered either openly or under the guise of so-called humanitarian convoys. With that and other Russian support, illegal armed groups attacked Malaysia Airlines Flight MH- 17, taking nearly 300 innocent lives. With that and other Russian support, almost 13,000 people were killed in Donbas, while nearly 1.6 million people were forced to leave their homes.”
2019-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8496 (2019) · source
“It is crucial to ensure the effective implementation of all international instruments for combating terrorism, including the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism. Unfortunately, not all States respect their international obligations in that area. For example, by joining the Convention, States have pledged to suppress the financing of terrorism, but in reality we continue to witness the opposite from some States, which has already caused tragic consequences, including in my own country. For already half a decade, the policy of terror has become one ofthe key elements of the hybrid aggression cruelly and shamelessly launched against my country in 2014, in blatant violation of fundamental international norms and principles, including key counter-terrorism obligations.”
2019-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8496 (2019) · source
“Secondly, cooperation should be promoted between Governments and the private sector, including through social media. Thirdly, awareness should be raised regarding existing risks in the area of the financing of terrorism and regarding financial flows with links to terrorist activities. Fourthly, effective international cooperation and mutual assistance should be ensured at the level of financial intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Such efforts should be based on relevant international legal instruments, including Security Council resolutions, as well as recommendations made within the framework of the Financial Action Task Force. That brings me to the issue of compliance with international obligations in the area of counter- terrorism.”
2019-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8496 (2019) · source
“Despite the efforts undertaken to counter terrorism, including legal, diplomatic and military measures, more should be done to eradicate the phenomenon, which has become rampant at the regional and global levels, and particular emphasis should be placed on the underlying causes of terrorism. Therefore, the following further efforts need to be undertaken. First, the capacity of States in the area of collecting credible evidence of terrorist activities should be enhanced in order to introduce more universal criminalization of the actions of all perpetrators, organizers, mentors and sponsors of terrorism and ensure the eventual prosecution and punishment of those who provide funding for terrorist activities in any form and by any means.”
2019-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8496 (2019) · source
“In that regard, we welcome the unanimous adoption of resolution 2462 (2019), which was co-sponsored by 51 States, including Ukraine. We believe that the resolution will be another practical tool at our disposal. Indeed, we are witnessing growing challenges related to the abuse of legitimate financial institutions and businesses, the emergence of new payment methods and the use of non-profit organizations to transfer funds for terrorist purposes. In addition, the resolution provides specific measures for assessing and addressing the potential risks associated with innovations in financial technologies, products and services.”
2019-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8496 (2019) · source
“At the outset, let me join the previous speakers in thanking the French presidency for convening today's open debate. I fully align myself with the statement delivered earlier on behalf of the European Union and would like to make the following comments in my national capacity. I will focus on two main issues proposed by the presidency of our debate, beginning with the one related to adapting the response of the international community to the changing nature of the terrorist threat. There have recently been a number of important developments in advancing new counter-terrorism standards and further consolidating and amplifying international action to counter the threat of terrorism, which have provided a basis for the introduction of a more nuanced approach to combating the financing of terrorism.”
2019-03-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8496 (2019) · source
“Then we would see what the equilibrium of support really is. Finally, to sum up, I would like to quote from the latest opus published yesterday in the Russian Nezavisimaya Gazeta, an article by Mr. Vladislav Surkov, whose name, I believe, is well known, at least around this table. He writes, "Having fallen from the level of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to that of the Russian Federation, Russia has ceased to fall, has begun to recover and has returned to its natural and only possible status as a great, expanding and community of nations gathering lands unto itself". I believe that Ukraine is probably not the last country on that list.”
2019-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8461 (2019) · source
“With regard to the millions of Ukrainians living in Russia who will be deprived of the right to vote and whom the Russian representative mentioned in his statement, I would like to remind my colleague that when I was Ambassador to Moscow in 2012 during the last Ukrainian elections that were held during my time there, 12,000 Ukrainian citizens voted all over Russia. In 2014, the number dropped to 1,200. I therefore wonder about the millions he mentioned. With regard to the 4 million people in the Donbas region who will be unable to vote in the presidential elections, if he would like them to vote as the people did in Crimea, under the barrels of Russian guns, perhaps they could vote. So how about allowing the 2.2 million Ukrainian citizens in Crimea to participate and vote in the elections?”
2019-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8461 (2019) · source
“I too have heard nothing new in the statement by my Russian colleague, barring a very few things. First, I am very glad that the issue of Crimea is once again part of the Security Council's discussions. It is the first time that I have not heard my colleague say that Crimea is not an issue. It is a good thing that we are discussing it. Another exception that I forgot to mention in my initial statement is that there certainly is one new element in the Russian delegation's rhetoric, and no doubt its new favourite topic, which is the upcoming holding of presidential elections in Ukraine. Sometimes I think that the results of Ukraine's presidential elections are even more important to Russians than their own are.”
2019-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8461 (2019) · source
“We care about our people, and Russia is sending a clear signal to all its soldiers fighting in Ukraine that it will do nothing to bring them back home. The issue at stake in Minsk tomorrow is the fate of three Ukrainians who have been captured and held in Donetsk for nearly four years now. Their names are Bohdan Pantyushenko, Oleksandr Korynkov and Serhiy Hlondar, whose three-year-old daughter has never seen him. Let us make our meeting meaningful andjointly call on Russia to release them.”
2019-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8461 (2019) · source
“In conclusion, as our rhetorical exercise here has continued for nearly three hours already, and as our friends have already reminded us, I would like to remind the Council that tomorrow the Trilateral Contact Group will hold what is already its 103rd meeting. For many months, the Minsk process participants have desperately tried to convince Russia to at least agree to the exchange of prisoners, based on any formula agreeable to them, including all for all. Ukraine has sent 13 official written proposals with different formulas for exchanging Ukrainian prisoners and detainees in Russia and the occupied territories for Russian citizens in Ukraine who have been sentenced for crimes against my country's territorial integrity and sovereignty. We have received no response.”
2019-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8461 (2019) · source
“14-15) As we see, the Russian firm intention of 1993 to conduct itself as a civilized State has not, unfortunately, evolved into a principled and consistent policy, as its invasions in Georgia in 2008 and in Ukraine in 2014 clearly reveal. And that is the State that is fond of accusing others of "Henorosopocnoco6Hocrs", which is a Russian word that means being incapable of fulfilling one's contractual obligations. It can be quite fascinating to see the Russians declaring one thing, doing the complete opposite and simultaneously attempting, figuratively speaking, to turn the tables and convince everyone that black is white and white is black. At this point, I would like to cite Matthew 7:16: "Ye shall know them by their fruits". The Russian fruits are rather obvious.”
2019-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8461 (2019) · source
“The Security Council recalls that in the Treaty between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, signed in Kiev on 19 November 1990, the High Contracting Parties committed themselves to respect each other's territorial integrity within their currently existing frontiers." The Russian representative at that time said at that Council meeting: "As we remain dedicated to the principle of the inviolability of the borders within the Commonwealth of Independent States, inter alia between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, Russia intends strictly to abide by the fundamental norms of civilized behavior for States in the international arena, based on the firm ground of international law, respect for the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe." (S/PV3256, pp.”
2019-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8461 (2019) · source
“Having discussed in detail the implementation ofthe Minsk agreements and the respective Security Council resolution, I would also like to bring to the attention of Council members another document of this body, that is, the statement by the President of the Security Council S/26118, of 20 July 1993, which was adopted following the Council's consideration of the agenda item entitled "Complaint by Ukraine regarding the Decree of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation concerning Sevastopol". That is not a forgotten story. The document contains the following words: "The Security Council reaffirms in this connection its commitment to the territorial integrity okaraine, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.”
2019-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8461 (2019) · source
“The only way for Russia to prove its declared willingness towards de-escalation is to stop the talk and walk the walk - and to join Ukraine and partners in constructive work on a peacekeeping operation. It must be a full- fledged mission, deployed to all Russia-occupied areas of Donbas, including along the uncontrolled segment of the Ukrainian-Russian State border.”
2019-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8461 (2019) · source
“For Ukraine it is a matter of principle that any decision on establishing a peacekeeping operation in Donbas extend its mandate over the entire occupied territory, provide for the withdrawal of all foreign troops and mercenaries and their weaponry from the territory of Ukraine, as well as the dissolution of all illegal bodies and structures. It no less important that any peacekeeping operation be based on key United Nations peacekeeping principles, first and foremost, impartiality, even-handedness and neutrality. We call on Russia to give up its attempts to misuse the United Nations peacekeeping toolbox in order to legitimize the gains of aggression in Donbas.”
2019-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8461 (2019) · source
“In 2018 alone, the Special Monitoring Mission encountered over 900 restrictions of access in the Russia-occupied parts of Donbas, especially near the State border and in southern parts of the Donetsk region adjacent to the Sea of Azov. Again, some facts: in 2018 there were 153 cases of illegal crossing of the Ukraine-Russia border by automobile and rail transport carrying military goods, fuel, arms and weapons, armaments and munitions. There have already been 19 cases in 2019, in just over one month. That is why we still believe that a peacekeeping operation under United Nations auspices can bring peace to Ukraine. We are ready for constructive discussions on this initiative.”
2019-02-12 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8461 (2019) · source