Ambassador Power: Russian Peacekeepers in Ukraine – Oxymoron

Ambassador Samantha Power is recognized among Ukrainians and other freedom-loving peoples around the world as a stateswomen and human being who supports the rights of the downtrodden and is not afraid to reprimand national bullies that seek to persecute others. In other words, she is not reluctant to duke it out with the likes of Russian diplomats at the United Nations who by virtue of position and audacity attempt to pull the wool over the worlds’ eyes.

Three days after Russia was again rebuked by the global community, specifically the members of the UN Security Council, the Kremlin was again admonished for its attempt to launch a full-scale invasion against Ukraine under the guise of peacekeeping and humanitarian aid.

As we wrote previously, after invading Ukraine and spreading death a mayhem in eastern Ukraine, creating a humanitarian crisis, Russia sought to have the UN approve a humanitarian mission to Ukraine. Fortunately, not one member state swallowed the bait.

Ambassador Power, the US permanent representative to the UN, publically observed that the idea of Russian peacekeepers in Ukraine is an oxymoron.

Admitting that these are challenging times for Ukraine, Power sympathized with Ukrainians who have had to flee their homes. “No one should be forced to live without access to essential medicine, or with only an hour of access to water a day,” she said.

But she quickly added that relief should not come from the source of the devastation – Russia. “That’s why we welcome the fact that the Ukrainian government has created humanitarian corridors, which are allowing critical aid to get into – and civilians to get out of – separatist-controlled areas. And Ukraine is making a concerted effort to address the complex needs of approximately 117,000 people who have been internally displaced. In doing so, Ukraine is working effectively with international humanitarian organizations to provide assistance,” she said.

The America official said “in Ukraine, urgent humanitarian assistance should be delivered by the international humanitarian organizations that have the expertise, experience, and independence to provide it. It should not be delivered by Russia.”

Ukraine has been asking for aid from humanitarian organizations, she said, so there is no logical reason for Russia to deliver it.

“Therefore, any further unilateral intervention by Russia into Ukrainian territory – including one under the guise of providing humanitarian aid – would be completely unacceptable and deeply alarming,” she said. “And it would be viewed as an invasion of Ukraine.”

Great observation. Simple and true.

“Last week, the Russians again floated the idea of sending Russian quote ‘peacekeepers’ to eastern Ukraine. A ‘Russian peacekeeper’ in Ukraine is an oxymoron: at every step in this crisis, Russians have sabotaged peace, not built it. And it is particularly worrisome given Russia’s purported annexation of Crimea, which was predicated on calls by an illegitimate, puppet government, for Russia to send troops to restore ‘peace.’ Peacekeepers are impartial – yet Russia fully supports Russian armed separatists in this conflict,” Ambassador Power declared.

Listing Russia’s recent aggressive transgressions against Ukraine, she said the following:

“Russian cross-border military assistance to illegal separatists has actually increased substantially. Russian tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, multiple rocket launcher systems, and truck-loads of munitions continue to flow to separatists, while new fighters are trained on Russian soil. And Russia continues to take actions that escalate the conflict; amassing more and more troops and hardware near the border; launching extensive military exercises this week; and shelling across the border into sovereign Ukrainian territory. Perhaps most shocking is that Russia has doubled down on its support for rebels and provocative actions after witnessing the horrific carnage that resulted from the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH-17.”

Ambassador Power has been leading the global diplomatic campaign on behalf of Ukraine in the hallowed halls of the United Nations. Canadian, British and Lithuanian diplomats have also earnestly spoken up in defense of Ukraine. Too bad there aren’t more of them.

Britain's UN Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant at the emergency session accused Russia of continuing “recklessly to fuel the conflict” by building up its forces on the border, “and now we hear that Russia is ready to intervene on humanitarian grounds to alleviate the suffering that it has manufactured.”

Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ivan Simonovic, briefing the council by videoconference from Croatia, welcomed President Petro Poroshenko’s proposal for a new round of talks to find a way to restore a ceasefire.

He warned that “the fabric” of Ukrainian society is being torn apart by the ongoing violence, the use of “hate speech” is increasing especially in social media, and there is “what amounts to a reign of fear and terror in areas under control of the armed groups, with a breakdown of law and order.”