Vladimir Putin “will continue to wage his unjust war” against Ukraine, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a recent UN Security Council Ministerial Meeting on Ukraine. Nonetheless, to end the war, there are two immediate and interrelated steps that the international community must take.
“First, we must address Russia’s growing cooperation with North Korea and Iran,” he said.
“Iran has been providing armed drones to the Kremlin since 2022. It built a drone factory in Russia. Just a few weeks ago, it transferred hundreds of short-range ballistic missiles to Russia, and Tehran has trained Russian military personnel in Iran how to operate these weapons.”
“Meanwhile, the DPRK has delivered trainloads of weapons and ammunition to Russia, including ballistic missiles, launchers, and millions of artillery rounds.”
The second step, said Secretary Blinken, is to find a way to peacefully resolve the conflict. “[A]ll of us here have a responsibility to support Ukraine’s call for a just and lasting peace.”
“A just and lasting peace must affirm the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence.”
“A just and lasting peace must preserve Ukraine’s right to choose its own path, its own allies, its own future.”
“A just and lasting peace requires Ukraine’s full participation – and assent.”
“A just and lasting peace must support Ukraine’s reconstruction and recovery, with Russia paying to fix the damage it’s caused.”
“A just and lasting peace must address both accountability and reconciliation.”
“One of the [UN Security] Council’s primary responsibilities is seeking to peacefully resolve conflicts,” said Secretary Blinken. “But the way the council seeks to end this conflict matters.”
“Other countries have put forward their own proposals – some of which … fail to distinguish between the aggressor and the aggressed and call on all sides to de-escalate,” he said.
“A proposal along these lines would reward Putin’s aggression, allow him to rest, re-arm, re-invade Ukraine – as he has done time and again. It would also embolden would-be aggressors everywhere around the world.”
“As history teaches us, peace without principle is prologue to more conflict, to more suffering, to more instability,” said Secretary Blinken.
“So, to all nations who want this conflict to end – and do it in a way that will endure – the quickest way forward is simple: stop those who are enabling and fueling Putin’s aggression and demand a just peace that upholds the principles of the United Nations Charter.”
