US tells UN: Russia’s strikes on Ukraine cast doubt on its desire for peace
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US diplomat John Kelley warned that Washington could punish Moscow with economic measures if it continues its war in Ukraine.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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- US warns Russia's strikes on Ukraine undermine peace efforts and threatens economic consequences if the war continues.
- Ukraine urges an immediate ceasefire as essential for negotiations, while Russia demands thorough preparation for any summit.
- Russia claims the US acknowledges the need to address the conflict's root causes for a peaceful resolution.
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UNITED NATIONS – Deadly missile and drone strikes on Ukraine “cast doubt on the seriousness of Russia’s desire for peace”, the US told the UN Security Council on Aug 29, warning that Washington could punish Moscow with economic measures if it continues the war.
“The United States calls on the Russian Federation to avoid these consequences by stopping the violence and engaging constructively to end the war,” US diplomat John Kelley told the 15-member council.
“Russia must decide now to move towards peace. The leaders of Russia and Ukraine must agree to meet bilaterally,” he added.
Russia pounded Ukraine with missile and drone strikes early on Aug 28 in a sweeping attack.
The strikes on Kyiv
Diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s full-scale invasion have so far yielded little, even after US President Donald Trump met separately with the Russian and Ukrainian leaders earlier in August.
“Russia continues to choose killing over ending the war,” Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko told the Security Council.
“We should take this into account in our efforts aimed at peaceful resolution and establishment of reliable security guarantees. These guarantees shall protect both Ukrainian sovereignty and the lives of Ukrainian people, especially children,” she said.
“Our people must feel safe already today. That’s why ceasefire remains an essential prerequisite for successful future negotiation.”
Russia’s Deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy said Moscow was prepared to consider a summit with Ukraine “provided that there is thorough prior preparation for such a meeting and the substantive content of it; otherwise, it would simply not have any meaning”.
He added that the US was “more and more understanding the need to address the root causes of the conflict without which it won’t be possible to resolve it”.
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, calling it a “special military operation” and claiming it needed to “denazify” its neighbour and halt dangerous Nato expansion to the east. REUTERS
