Quote (ferdia @ 22 Sep 2022 11:26)
Reported on the Irish state broadcaster channel:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the United Nations meeting in New York that Ukraine wanted "just punishment" for crimes Russia has committed against his nation. In a unique recorded address to the UN General Assembly, he set out Ukraine's five-point plan for a durable peace. Only seven countries had voted against allowing him to deliver his address by video - Belarus, Cuba, North Korea, Eritrea, Syria, Nicaragua and Russia. Normally leaders must turn up in person to address the General Assembly.
President Zelensky said his five non-negotiable conditions for peace included punishment for Russian aggression, restoration of Ukraine's security, territorial integrity and security guarantees. He repeatedly stressed that he wanted Russia punished - punished for aggression, for violation of borders and territorial integrity, and for crimes against civilians. He said punishment, including economic sanctions, must stay in place until the internationally recognised border between Ukraine and Russia is restored.
"A crime has been committed against Ukraine. And we demand just punishment. "The crime was committed against our state borders. The crime was committed against the lives of our people. The crime was committed against the dignity of our women and men. The crime was committed against the values that make you and me a community of the United Nations. "Ukraine demands punishment for trying to steal our territory, punishment for the murders of thousands of people, punishment for tortures and humiliations of women and men. "Punishment for that catastrophic turbulence that Russia provoked with its illegal war. And not only for us, Ukrainians, but for the whole world."
He said his government is ready for real peace talks - but would not accept Ukrainian neutrality as a price of peace.
He also demanded reparations from Russia for the damage it had caused to Ukraine, and insisted that Russian assets be used to pay for the repairs to Ukraine's physical infrastructure. Ukraine could win back all its territory by military means, he said, and called for other nations to supply Ukraine with all the weapons and intelligence it needed to win the war. He said the fact that 101 nations voted in favour of him appearing at the General Assembly by video link – compared with just seven who voted against - showed that the cause of Ukraine enjoyed widespread support.
Many delegations gave Mr Zelensky a standing ovation after his speech. The Russian delegation remained seated. Ukraine and its Western allies have accused Russian forces of war crimes in different parts of the country they have occupied. Russia denies the allegations and says it does not target civilians. EU Foreign Ministers were called into an emergency meeting in New York by the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Josep Borrell. Amidst talk of new sanctions on Russia in response to its mobilisation of army reserves and the calling of referendums in occupied parts of Ukraine, the EU wants to ensure member state minsters offer a coordinated message for the rest of the week at the UK.
Later today the UN Security Council will hold a special debate on the situation in Ukraine. In an unusual move it will be attended by the foreign ministers of 14 of the 15 member states, including Russian Foreign Minster Sergei Lavrov, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney. It will be chaired by French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna and will also hear from Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Mr Coveney told RTÉ News he expects the debate to be "robust, abrasive and blunt".
Meanwhile, Kim Darroch, a former UK ambassador to the US and the UK's Permanent Representative to the EU, said Vladimir Putin's announcement is a sign of "failure", "was never the plan" and shows how badly Russia is faring in this war. Mr Putin's hints about turning to tactical nuclear weapons are "sinister and deeply concerning", he said, adding: "We need the strongest possible messages both in public and private channels to the Russians of how profoundly grave the consequences would be to do this."
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i.e. both sides are basically doubling down here. obviously all this can be considered as further escalation, and at this point I think we have to serious consider/accept that we are edging closer to the use of non conventional weapons by russia. reason: neither side relenting, neither side compromising, poles apart in position, and current position ever worsening for russia.
i'm curious: let's say you were a peace negotiator - what do you think a fair "compromise" would look like? who would hold which regions? who would have to pay reparations? what would you personally consider "reasonable" positions, how realistic are they currently, and who is more likely to agree to them?