At the UN Security Council, the US and Russia sparred over the Ukraine situation, with Washington warning of a “horrific” war if Moscow invades its neighbour and Russian diplomats downplaying the prospect of military combat.
During a special open session on Monday, US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield warned the council that a Russian invasion of Ukraine would jeopardise global security.
“Colleagues, the situation in Europe is urgent and dangerous, and the stakes for Ukraine and every UN member state could not be greater,” Thomas-Greenfield said, predicting “horrific” consequences if Russia attacks Ukraine.
“Russia’s actions go right to the heart of the United Nations Charter. “This is the most obvious and serious threat to peace and security that anyone can envision,” she stated.
The Russian military has been massing soldiers near the country’s border with Ukraine, causing a diplomatic crisis and raising fears in the United States and Europe that Moscow is preparing for an invasion. Russia has denied that it is planning an invasion, but it has been a vocal opponent of Ukraine’s attempts to join NATO.
Despite Moscow’s repeated denials of a planned invasion, Russia’s UN envoy Vasily Nebenzya accused Washington and its allies of inflaming the prospect of war.
“Discussions concerning the threat of war are inherently controversial. It’s almost as if you’re begging for it. It’s something you desire to happen. During the Security Council meeting, Nebenzya said, “You’re waiting for it to happen as if you want your words to become a reality.”
Following the UN session, the White House urged Russia to find a diplomatic solution to the standoff.
“The United States and our Allies and Partners will continue to engage in good faith if Russia is honest about addressing our separate security concerns via discussion,” US President Joe Biden said in a statement.
“If Russia instead chooses to abandon diplomacy and invade Ukraine, it will take responsibility and face rapid and serious repercussions.”
Last week, the Biden administration sent Moscow a written answer clarifying Washington’s position on the problem; it rejected Russia’s demand that NATO’s eastward expansion be halted, but it did open the door to talks on arms control in eastern Europe.
However, Russia’s Nebenzya warned on Monday that Ukraine should be prohibited from joining NATO. He also criticised Western military aid to Kyiv, claiming that it is exacerbating the situation in eastern Ukraine.
Meanwhile, James Kariuki, the UK’s UN ambassador, dismissed Russia’s denials of a planned invasion of Ukraine and urged Moscow to “stand down” its forces.
Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, has stated that he will telephone his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in the coming days to urge calm. “What I’ll say to President Putin, as I’ve stated previously,” Johnson told reporters, “is that I believe we all need to take a step back from the brink, and I believe Russia needs to take a step back from the brink.”
The UK government has said it is laying the groundwork for imposing sanctions on Russia if it intervenes militarily in Ukraine, and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss announced legislation on Monday that would impose harsher penalties on Russian officials and businesses, as well as individuals close to the Kremlin, if the country is invaded.
Asset freezes and travel bans for targeted individuals are among the recommended measures.
“We will have the power to sanction you,” Truss added, whether you support Russia’s aggressive actions against Ukraine or are of greater importance to the Kremlin. “Nothing is off limits, and there will be no hiding places.”
The Kremlin retaliated by accusing London of escalating European tensions. “An attack on Russian enterprise by a specific country entails retaliatory measures, which will be prepared based on our interests if necessary,” spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said during his daily news briefing.
