Fourteen times since last September, Russia has called a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to try to shift the blame of its aggression against Ukraine to that selfsame neighbor. It is attempting to change the narrative of February 24, 2022 by trying to portray Ukraine as the aggressor in a war that was initiated by the Russian Federation; intimating that the inherent right to self-defense, does not apply to Ukraine, or by extension, to any small country; and that Ukraine is not entitled to receive assistance from its allies as it desperately tries to protect its citizens and its territory.
Let us be clear: the Russian Federation is not the victim in Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked war on Ukraine.
“We listen closely to Russia’s words,” said Ambassador John Kelley, U.S. Political Minister Counselor at the UN. “But let us also look at its actions.”
“Russia is committing aggression against a sovereign UN Member State,” he said.
“Russia continues to ruthlessly attack Ukraine in pursuit of territorial conquest.”
But even as it castigated Ukraine’s allies for supplying it with the means to defend itself, Russia solicits and receives war materiel from UN-banned sources.
“Since last December, Russian forces have used DPRK-supplied ballistic missiles to strike Ukraine nearly a dozen times, firing upwards of 40 DPRK ballistic missiles.
Since last September, Russia has procured over 11,000 shipping containers of munitions and munitions-related materiel from the DPRK, in violation of the UN arms embargo on the DPRK.”
Finally, “Russia also continues to deepen its military relationship with Iran, including through its continued acquisition of armed Iranian [Unmanned Aerial Vehicles] used to target Ukrainian civilians and civilian infrastructure,” said Ambassador Kelley.
“We continue to be concerned about reports Russia seeks to procure ballistic missiles from Iran. Such an acquisition would represent a significant escalation in Iran’s support for Russia’s war of aggression.”
“The international community has overwhelmingly condemned Russian aggression against Ukraine. As I’ve said before, Russia can end this war today,” said Ambassador Kelley.
“The United States remains committed to providing Ukraine what it needs to defend itself.
“We once again call for Russia to immediately withdraw its forces from Ukraine’s territory within its internationally recognized borders and stop its unlawful procurement of DPRK-origin materiel.”
Russia Is Not the Victim of Ukraine War
- Policy Office
The Russian Federation is not the victim in Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked war on Ukraine.
