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UN / GENERAL ASSEMBLY UKRAINE
STORY: UN / GENERAL ASSEMBLY UKRAINE
TRT: 6:00
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 23 FEBRUARY 2022, NEW YORK CITY
FILE – NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, UN headquarters exterior
22 FEBRUARY 2022, NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, UN Headquarters exterior
2. Wide shot, General Assembly Hall
3. Wide shot, Secretary General and President of the General Assembly at meeting
4. Wide shot, Guterres walking to podium
5. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“The Minsk Agreements – approved by the Security Council and that I strongly supported from the beginning -- were surviving in an intensive care unit thanks to a number of life support devices. But now those devices have been disconnected. We must also be concerned about preserving the integrity of peacekeeping. The United Nations has a long and recognized experience deploying peacekeeping operations -- which only take place with the consent of the host country.”
6. Wide shot, General Assembly Hall
7. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations:
“It is time for restraint, reason and de-escalation. There is no place for actions and statements that would take this dangerous situation over the abyss. It is time to establish a ceasefire and return to the path of dialogue and negotiations to save the people in Ukraine and beyond from the scourge of war.”
8. Wide shot, Ukrainian Foreign Minister walking to podium
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Kuleba Dmytro, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ukraine:
“The beginning of a large-scale war in Ukraine will be the end of the world order as we know it. If Russia does not get a severe, swift and decisive response now, this will mean a total bankruptcy of the international security system and international institutions which are tasked with maintaining the global security order. This is a grim scenario which will throw us back to the darkest times of the 20th century.”
10. Wide shot, Ukrainian Foreign Minister at podium
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Kuleba Dmytro, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ukraine:
“Every hour of inaction now is a threat to the lives of Ukrainians, not only military but also civilians, including women and children. This is an escalating threat to our collective global security and to our freedom. Ukraine expects decisive, immediate and proportional actions by the international community.”
12. Wide shot, Ukrainian Foreign Minister at podium
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Kuleba Dmytro, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ukraine:
“Today, Ukraine defends not only global security, but also freedom, democracy and fundamental principles of international law. Peaceful life and the future of millions of people in Europe and around the globe rely on the rules that Russia tries to destroy. Diplomacy and international fora must prevail and stop Russian aggression.”
14. Wide shot, Ukrainian Foreign Minister at podium
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Tarek Ahmed, Minister for South Asia, North Africa, the United Nations and the Commonwealth, United Kingdom:
“If Russia continues its campaign of aggression, we have a further package of sanctions ready to go. We urge the wider international community to join us in this effort. The Kremlin must understand the strength of the world’s condemnation of President Putin’s war of choice.”
16. Wide shot, Lord Ahmed at podium
17. SOUNDBITE (English) Tobias Lindner, Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office, Germany:
“Russia is violating the core principles of the UN Charter. We need to close ranks and strongly reject such action. If not, then what has hit Ukraine today could happen to other UN member states tomorrow. Everybody in this Assembly should be aware of this.”
18. Wide shot, Russian ambassador at podium
19. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Vassily Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations:
“It is precisely because of Kiev’s unwillingness to consider the interests of a board swath of its population that since 2014 Ukraine has been at war with its own citizens who do not agree with the Maidan values and the current policy of the authorities. Ukraine’s western backers did nothing to convince Kiev to heed its own people thus demonstrating egregious double standards.”
20. Wide shot, Russian ambassador at podium
21. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Vassily Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations:
“Given the blatant genocide and the trampling on the most important human right of all, the right to life, our country could not remain indifferent to the fate of the four million people of Donbass. We have been primarily guided by the fact that the greatest value of all is that of human life. In criticizing us for our decision, you are showing utter indifference to the fate of the Donetsk and Luhansk people, just as Kiev and its western backers have done during these eight years of conflict.”
22. Med shot, Ukrainian ambassador at meeting
23. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Vassily Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations:
“The West continues to goad and to provoke and to arm Kiev. We warn you that since, upon the request of Donetsk and Luhansk the ceasefire will be monitored by the Russian armed forces. No one intends to go soft with any violators. Therefore, we urge you today to focus efforts on reining in Kiev and deterring it from conducting a new military adventure that might cost the whole of Ukraine very dearly.”
24. Wide shot, United States ambassador at podium
25. SOUNDBITE (English) Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations:
“This is President Putin’s war of choice. If he chooses to escalate further, Russia and Russia alone will bear full responsibility for what is to come. What we can do together today is make clear that Russia will pay an even steeper price if it continues its aggression. That responsible countries do not bully their neighbours into submission. That former empires cannot lay claim to sovereign and independent nations.”
26. Med shot, Russian representative
27. Med shot, Ukrainian ambassador
28. Wide shot, United States ambassador leaving podium
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the world is facing a moment of peril with the crisis in Ukraine, adding that it is “time for restraint, reason and de-escalation.” He said, “There is no place for actions and statements that would take this dangerous situation over the abyss.”
Addressing a meeting of the General Assembly today (23 Feb) Guterres said the latest developments regarding Ukraine are a cause of grave concern. He said the Russia’s decision to recognize the so-called independence of Donetsk and Luhansk regions is a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and inconsistent with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
The UN chief said, “The Minsk Agreements – approved by the Security Council and that I strongly supported from the beginning -- were surviving in an intensive care unit thanks to a number of life support devices. But now those devices have been disconnected. We must also be concerned about preserving the integrity of peacekeeping. The United Nations has a long and recognized experience deploying peacekeeping operations -- which only take place with the consent of the host country.”
Guterres called for the establishment of a ceasefire and a “return to the path of dialogue and negotiations to save the people in Ukraine and beyond from the scourge of war.”
He said the UN would continue to support the people in Ukraine through its human rights and humanitarian work and urged all sides to allow safe and unimpeded access by humanitarian agencies, including in non-Government controlled areas of eastern Ukraine.
Guterres said he was fully committed to support all efforts to resolve this crisis without further bloodshed, adding that his good offices remain available.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba Dmytro said swift, concrete and resolute actions were needed in the face of what he called Russian aggression.
He said the world is in the middle of the largest security crisis in Europe since the Second World War, which was created and is being escalated by Russia unilaterally.
The Foreign Minister said Russia’s actions and statements are outrageous and go far beyond threatening Ukraine, denying his country’s right to exist.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister said, “The beginning of a large-scale war in Ukraine will be the end of the world order as we know it. If Russia does not get a severe, swift and decisive response now, this will mean a total bankruptcy of the international security system and international institutions which are tasked with maintaining the global security order. This is a grim scenario which will throw us back to the darkest times of the 20th century.”
Dmytro said Russia will not stop at Ukraine. He stressed that if a permanent member of the Security Council could break all the rules, others would also be inspired to do the same.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister said Russia is trying to prove that the UN is weak, indecisive, and unable to defend its core principles. He underscored that if the UN makes a pivot to become a strong and proactive player which is not afraid to use its power, Russia would stop.
Dmytro said, “Every hour of inaction now is a threat to the lives of Ukrainians, not only military but also civilians, including women and children. This is an escalating threat to our collective global security and to our freedom. Ukraine expects decisive, immediate and proportional actions by the international community.”
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister said his country wants peace and sees no alternative to peaceful solutions by political and diplomatic means. He said there is still an opportunity for diplomacy even as Russia continues it provocations.
Dmytro said, “Today, Ukraine defends not only global security, but also freedom, democracy and fundamental principles of international law. Peaceful life and the future of millions of people in Europe and around the globe rely on the rules that Russia tries to destroy. Diplomacy and international fora must prevail and stop Russian aggression.”
The Foreign Minister said Ukraine made a historic contribution to global security when it gave up its nuclear arsenal in 1994, which was considered the third largest at the time, and has no plans to regain nuclear weapons. He said, today, Ukraine expects the international community to ensure its security. He said despite requesting a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, the Security Council has so far failed to take the decision to do so.
The Foreign Minister said Ukraine proposes combining stark sanctions, strengthening Ukraine and keeping diplomatic channels open to persuade Russia to de-escalate and prioritize diplomacy.
Dmytro said Ukraine stands ready for all possible scenarios and to protect its land and people if Russia further attacks, despite still believing in peace and diplomacy.
British Minister Lord Tarek Ahmed of Wimbledon said his country is unwavering in its support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
Lord Ahmed said President Vladimir Putin’s decision to recognise the so-called ‘Donetsk People’s Republic’ and ‘Luhansk People’s Republic’ as independent states, proves beyond doubt that Russia has chosen the path of confrontation over the path of diplomacy and dialogue.
The British Minister said his country announced the largest sanctions package against Russia in British history as part of its coordinated sanctions effort, alongside its allies.
He said, “If Russia continues its campaign of aggression, we have a further package of sanctions ready to go. We urge the wider international community to join us in this effort. The Kremlin must understand the strength of the world’s condemnation of President Putin’s war of choice.”
Lord Ahmed said the international community unequivocally condemn Russias aggression stop its expansionist ambitions.
German Minister of State Tobias Lindner said Russia’s decision to recognize the self-proclaimed so-called peoples’ republics of Donetsk and Luhansk could be a deadly blow for the international rules based order and for the way UN has functioned over the last decades.
He said, “Russia is violating the core principles of the UN Charter. We need to close ranks and strongly reject such action. If not, then what has hit Ukraine today could happen to other UN member states tomorrow. Everybody in this Assembly should be aware of this.”
Lindner commended Ukraine’s continued restraint in the face of Russia’s aggression and President Selensky’s commitment to finding a peaceful, diplomatic way out.
The German Minister urged Russia to de-escalate now, to withdraw its troops from Ukraine, in particular from the self-proclaimed entities and the Crimean peninsula, as well as from Ukraine’s borders. He said Russia must refrain from any action which would further fuel the risk of a full-fledged military conflict with Ukraine and urged Russia to immediately repeal its decision to recognize the separatist entities.
Russian ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said Ukraine lost the territories as a result of its hate-filled policy against its own citizens. He said, following what he called the coup of 2014, the Government adopted a policy of systemic depravation of basic human rights based entirely on ethnic grounds.
Nebenzia said, “It is precisely because of Kiev’s unwillingness to consider the interests of a board swath of its population that since 2014 Ukraine has been at war with its own citizens who do not agree with the Maidan values and the current policy of the authorities. Ukraine’s western backers did nothing to convince Kiev to heed its own people thus demonstrating egregious double standards.”
The Russian ambassador said there is a great deal of speculation and insinuation surrounding Russia's decision to recognize the LPR and the DPR. He said he wanted to make it clear that what happened was a direct result of Kiev’s years-long sabotage of their obligations under the package measures adopted in Security Council Resolution 2202.
Nebenzia said Russia did all it could to preserve the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, despite the fact that Russia is not a party to the Minsk process. All this was in vain, the Russian ambassador said, as Kiev continued and is continuing to bomb its own citizens and evade direct dialogue with Donbass.
Nebenzia said, in any other crisis situation, UN members always call for an inclusive direct dialogue between the parties to the conflict, but Ukraine seems to be the expection.
He regretted the Secretary-General statements on the situation in east Ukraine, which he said, are not in line with his status and mandate under UN Charter. He said there is no conflict where any Secretary-General allowed himself to make such statements regarding any country.
Nebenzia said Ukraine has become anti-Russia over the years and waged a war on the Russian language and all that is Russian as part of its state policies. He said People of Luhansk and Donetsk did not weaver from implementing the Minsk agreements and believed the document would be implemented, and they would be granted special status, but their hopes were dashed.
The Russian ambassador said, “Given the blatant genocide and the trampling on the most important human right of all, the right to life, our country could not remain indifferent to the fate of the four million people of Donbass. We have been primarily guided by the fact that the greatest value of all is that of human life. In criticizing us for our decision, you are showing utter indifference to the fate of the Donetsk and Luhansk people, just as Kiev and its western backers have done during these eight years of conflict.”
Nebenzia said the conflict is in no way over, as shelling of the areas by the Ukrainian military have not ceased. He said, “The West continues to goad and to provoke and to arm Kiev. We warn you that since, upon the request of Donetsk and Luhansk the ceasefire will be monitored by the Russian armed forces. No one intends to go soft with any violators. Therefore, we urge you today to focus efforts on reining in Kiev and deterring it from conducting a new military adventure that might cost the whole of Ukraine very dearly.”
United States ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Russia’s actions have only confirmed what it had been warning about. She said calling for both sides to de-escalate only gives Russia a pass, stressed that Russia is the aggressor in this situation.
Thomas-Greenfield said the fake reality Russia wants to create is already having real consequences for the people of Ukraine and for the world. To date, Russia’s war in eastern Ukraine has already killed more than 14,000 people, and nearly three million Ukrainians, half of whom are elderly people and children, need food, shelter, and other life-saving assistance.
The US ambassador said, together with its partners and allies, her country has taken decisive actions to make the costs of Russia’s actions crystal clear.
She said "This is President Putin’s war of choice. If he chooses to escalate further, Russia and Russia alone will bear full responsibility for what is to come. What we can do together today is make clear that Russia will pay an even steeper price if it continues its aggression. That responsible countries do not bully their neighbours into submission. That former empires cannot lay claim to sovereign and independent nations.”
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