In the UN Security Council, Russia’s Foreign Minister Lavrov and Ukrainian President Zelensky fought a highly publicized long-distance duel. Chancellor Scholz also spoke to the committee.
Russia’s foreign minister is demonstratively taking his time. When Sergei Lavrov enters the stage with an apparently indifferent look, the Security Council meeting has already been going on for two hours. As he mechanically rattled off his speech list, the Ukrainian president said goodbye.
And yet the eagerly awaited meeting begins with an exchange of blows: Russia’s UN ambassador Vasily Nebenzya complains that Zelenskyj should speak first in order to turn the meeting into a “one-man stand-up show”. She is just a spectacle.
Zelensky accuses Russia of “genocide”.
Selenskyj clearly enjoys the great support in the room. US Secretary of State Blinken is there. Also Chancellor Scholz. With a disparaging look towards Moscow’s envoy, Zelensky accuses Russia of a “criminal” attack on his country and a “genocide.”
“Most of the world recognizes the truth about this war.”
Zelenskyj once again spoke out in favor of stripping Russia of its veto right in the Security Council. Knowing full well that this would be impossible under current statutes. But like many speakers in the UN general debate this week, Zelensky also called for reform of the United Nations. Above all: an expansion of the Security Council.
And: “We have to take into account the changes in Europe, especially the fact that Germany has become one of the most important global guarantors of peace and security,” said Zelensky. “That is a fact. It is also a fact that Germany deserves a place among the permanent members of the Security Council.”
Scholz repeats accusations against Russia
When Chancellor Scholz became the last speaker in the three-hour meeting, Zelensky and Lavrov were no longer there. Scholz accused Russia of deliberately depriving the world market of millions of tons of grain and fertilizer that countries around the world need. Russia unilaterally canceled the Black Sea Grain Initiative, worsening poverty and food insecurity around the world. There is no justification for this.
All claims that Russian exports of agricultural products and fertilizers are being hindered by sanctions are false, said Scholz. “There are no sanctions hindering such exports. On the contrary, Russia dominates the global fertilizer market. The year 2022 was a record year for Russian wheat exports.”
Scholz warns again about “seemingly simple solutions”
In his speech, the Chancellor called for a comprehensive peace for Ukraine based on the UN Charter. But like the day before, he also made it clear, man must “beware of seemingly simple solutions that promise peace in name only. Peace without freedom is oppression. Peace without justice is a dictate.”
Following the meeting, Scholz met Selenskyj for a discussion. It was expected that it would also be about the “Taurus” cruise missiles that Kiev wants from Berlin. Scholz is having a hard time with this. He has repeatedly made it clear that there can be no solo action against the USA in this matter.
This is one of the reasons why Ukraine’s president is in the White House this Thursday. According to the White House, the US government believes it is possible to deliver long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine. US media such as the Wall Street Journal assume that the decision will come quickly.