UN / UKRAINE SERGEYEV

Asked by a reporter whether Ukraine could defend itself against Russia, Ambassador Yuriy Sergeyev said the thought was “very painful” but “I think we are strong enough to defend ourselves.” UNTV

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:03:12
• Production Date: 2 March 2014
• Asset Language: Original
• Subject Topical: POLITICAL CONDITIONS; POLITICAL MOVEMENTS; INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; PEACE AND SECURITY; DISARMAMENT
• Geographic Subject: RUSSIAN FEDERATION; UKRAINE
• MAMS Id: U140302a

Description

STORY: UN / UKRAINE SERGEYEV
TRT: 3.12
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 28 FEBRUARY 2014, NEW YORK CITY

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, exterior, flags, United Nations headquarters
2. Med shot, Sergeyev speaking to reporters
3. Cutaway, press
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Yuriy Sergeyev, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations:
“It’s very painful for me because even I don’t want to think about any kind of military development around the settlement of the question. But I think we are strong enough to defend ourselves. We have a strong feeling that we are right what we are doing.”
5. Cutaway, press
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Yuriy Sergeyev, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations:
“I briefed the Security Council, I don’t have too much copies, but my people do have, on the current situations with unspecified armed forces of Russian Federation on the territory of the Ukraine. We informed about the illegal crossing the borders by Russian military transport aircraft, IL76, around ten of them, six plus four arrived, and eleven military helicopters.”
7. Cutaway, press
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Yuriy Sergeyev, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations:
“Today the parliament issued the resolution explaining that in Crimea they are observing the external presence encouraging the separatism, encouraging the clashes. The group of unidentified people yesterday grasped the Crimean Parliament and the Cabinet of Ministers. Under the threat of the Kalashnikovs the parliament took the decision to hold a referendum in May.”
9. Cutaway, press
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Yuriy Sergeyev, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations:
“I am referring to what the French leadership stated during the General Assembly last September to forget about the vetoes when atrocities are standing before us, when the challenge to international peace is in front of us. This is my expectation, but also the expectation of the General Assembly support as well.”
11. Cutaway,
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Yuriy Sergeyev, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations:
“Luckily I had no chance to listen to Yanukovych, that is what my colleagues who observed it told that his is comedy, even if you look back as I was told by my colleagues, if you look what he said literally ‘because our strategic relations with Ukraine.’ Look, the President of Ukraine said it like that.”
13. Med shot, press

Storyline

Asked by a reporter whether Ukraine could defend itself against Russia, Ambassador Yuriy Sergeyev said the thought was “very painful” but “I think we are strong enough to defend ourselves.”

Speaking to the press today (28 Feb) at United Nations headquarters following a private meeting on the latest developments in his country, he said “we have a strong feeling that we are doing the right thing.”

The private meeting was called after there were reports of Russian troops on the Crimean peninsula.

Sergeyev said that the parliament issued a resolution explaining that in Crimea “they are observing the external presence encouraging the separatism, encouraging the clashes. The group of unidentified people yesterday grasped the Crimean parliament and the cabinet of ministers. Under the threat of the Kalashnikovs the parliament took the decision to hold a referendum in May.”

Asked whether he thought the Security Council would be able to handle this current crisis given the track record of the current conflicts in the Council, he referred to what the French had said during the General Assembly last September to “forget about vetoes when atrocities are standing before us.”

On whether he saw the press conference today given by ousted Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych, he said “luckily” he didn’t have a chance to listen, but his colleagues called it “a comedy.”

Sergeyev said he will remain ambassador until he is recalled or someone else comes with new credentials.

Earlier this week, UN envoy Robert Serry held talks with senior Ukrainian officials in Kiev and promised to assist the country in its current crisis.

Last Saturday (22 Feb), members of the parliament of Ukraine – which has been witnessing mass protests since last November – voted to remove President Viktor Yanukovych, and an arrest warrant has reportedly been issued for his arrest.

The move comes after more than 100 people were killed last week in the latest wave of deadly clashes in the capital, Kiev.