Russia’s Crocodile Tears

Under the pretext of being distressed about the humanitarian crisis in eastern Ukraine, Russia convened on Tuesday an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council in hopes of securing a resolution that would allow peacekeepers to enter Ukraine and save the downtrodden people.

Indeed, the living conditions in Luhansk and other eastern Ukrainian cities are horrendous. No water and utilities not to mention dead bodies and destruction. All of which have been caused by Russia’s war with Ukraine.

Fortunately, the UN Security Council did not support Russia and Moscow again failed in its gambit to get a legal pretext for sending its troops into Ukraine.

Members of the Security Council pointed out to Vitaliy Churkin, Russia’s envoy and president of the Security Council, that Moscow is the cause of the humanitarian crisis and devastation, which will continue until Russia withdraws its soldiers and mercenaries from Ukraine.

In his statement, acting Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Oleksandr Pavlychenko, directly said the real cause behind the crisis in Donbas is the activity of Russia-supported illegal armed groups.

Pavlychenko also called on Russia to establish control over its border, he said.

“If Russia is really interested in the stabilization of the situation, we offer a few easy steps: to stop sending mercenaries and ammunition to Ukraine, to establish effective control over the border to prevent the infiltration, and withdraw all military and paramilitary formations from the east of Ukraine,” he said.

Pavlychenko announced that “Russia continues shelling at the Ukrainian army’s positions from Russian territory, while the number of [Russian] troops at the border [with Ukraine] is building up,” he said.

He also noted that the Ukrainian government follows all the recommendations by the UN.

“The government of Ukraine gives due consideration to all recommendations by the United Nations, there is no humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and the situation is manageable,” he said.

The Ukrainian government ensures the fulfillment of all social obligations, including retirement payments, social benefits, salaries, to the residents of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, except for some towns which remain under control of the terrorists, Pavlychenko added.

Gratefully, the United Nations has again shunned Moscow’s ruse to blame others for its aggression and violence.