Ukrainian Ambassador at UN: Russians, Pack up and Leave Ukraine

Analyzing and even ridiculing Russia’s cock-and-bull elaborations about its global policies, superiority and concerns, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Dr. Andrii Melnyk, dissected Moscow’s fabrications by pointing out in his inimitable sardonic style every lie, falsehood and exaggeration uttered by a Kremlin official.

Russia’s fabrications and manipulations threaten peace, stability and security in an already unstable world.

The Ukrainian diplomat cautioned that listening to Moscow’s untruths would leave the casual and gullible listener with the impression that Ukraine invaded “poor Russia” and not the other way around.

Replying scathingly in the General Assembly of the United Nations on March 23 in the language of the Russian invader and oppressor, Melnyk snapped “Just stop whining and lying and get out of Ukraine.”

Russia is shedding blood and spreading mayhem on two fronts – Ukraine and Iran. It is actively engaged in combat operations in Ukraine that kill innocent civilians and passively in Iran by providing the regime in Teheran with a range of weapons. The irony of the situation is that Russia is using its and Iran’s drones and missiles to also destroy towns and homes in Ukraine while pretending to be a friend and ally of the so-called Gulf States.

Melnyk categorically rejected Russia’s impression of benevolence: “It is Russia that is not just the principal ally of Iran, but the main accomplice and co-perpetrator of unlawful attacks against civilian infrastructure of the Gulf States.

“Russia has long portrayed itself as a ‘big friend’ of the Global South opposing the ‘vicious’ West.

“But this narrative collapses under the weight of the real actions of Moscow helping Iran to ruin oil and gas production facilities in the region.

“Russia does not care about the Global South. It has actually betrayed it.

“The Kremlin is not just providing Tehran with intelligence support, including satellite imagery and other crucial data that facilitate targeting of US military assets across the Middle East.”

Melnyk said Russia is not merely providing Iran with intelligence support, including satellite imagery, but there is enough evidence demonstrating that Russia is transferring modernized shahed drones to Iran. “The  same shahed drones that Tehran was sending to Moscow since 2022 to murder Ukrainian civilians are now produced in Russia and sent back both to destroy oil and gas infrastructure as the backbone of the economy in the Gulf states, and to kill American soldiers. This is an unprecedented escalation in the region that may cost countless lives,” he said.

Melnyk believes that the global community must treat seriously the danger that this Moscow-Tehran axis of evil is presenting to international security. Russian drones will help Iran wage this war for a very long time, destabilizing not only the region but the whole global economy.

Ukraine is doing its share to weaken the military potential of this “unholy alliance” despite facing brutal aggression on the part of Russia. Melnyk noted that the Ukrainian military is striking production facilities thus exercising its right of self-defense.

“So, providing Ukraine with the means for deep strikes and helping ramp up our domestic production of long-range missiles will support collective efforts to bring peace to the Middle East,” he added.

Ironically, Melnyk continued, Russia is the primary beneficiary of this new wave of instability in the Middle East.

He elaborated:

“First, it automatically diverts global attention away from its ongoing aggression against Ukraine.

“Second, the massive deployment of air defense systems is already creating shortages on the international market.

“And third — and most critically — rising oil and gas prices are generating extraordinary windfall revenues for Russia.

“Estimates suggest that in March alone, Russia may earn an additional $10 billion from energy exports.

“That is why we call upon our allies to impose additional sanctions on Russian oil and gas to deprive Moscow of these profits that fuel not only its war against Ukraine but also undermine global security and claim lives, including those of American servicemen.”

The Ukrainian official appealed to the international community not to allow Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine to be overshadowed by other regional and global conflagrations, pointing out that Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine and the Kremlin’s malign imperialistic goals are intertwined.

Melnyk listed the up-to-date tally of Moscow’s destruction and carnage in Ukraine:

“There shall be no illusion: this Russian war of annihilation against Ukrainian statehood continues with relentless brutality.

“This winter was the deadliest for the civilian population since February 2022.

“Over the last three months, Russia launched nearly 19,000 strike drones, more than 14,600 guided bombs and around 800 missiles.

“Russia sought to plunge Ukraine into total blackout, to fully destroy critical infrastructure, and to break the resistance of our people.

“But even though the suffering of civilians and the level of devastation are huge, Russia has failed to achieve this perfidious goal.

“According to recent polls, Ukrainians do not even consider giving up.” – Nor should they.

Despite Moscow’s demands that Ukraine surrender Donbas to Russia that is endorsed by Washington inasmuch as Ukraine is losing the war, citing military statistics, Melnyk showed the opposite trend.

“Russian troops, the self-proclaimed second army in the world, have needed three and a half years to occupy 9,300 square kilometers, an area three times the size of Rhode Island.

“Putin’s allegedly inexorable march to 'victory' has been proceeding more slowly than a turtle’s pace.

“At the current speed, it would take 183 years to occupy the whole territory of Ukraine. I repeat, Russia will need 183 years.

“It doesn’t really sound like a successful blitzkrieg for Moscow, does it?”

Melnyk said in recent months Ukrainian troops have broken the dynamics of war and begun to push Russian forces back in localized counterattacks. “In February alone, the Ukrainian army liberated a territory the combined size of Queens and Brooklyn in Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions. So, from the military point of view, Russia is not winning the war. And it is an obvious fact,” he noted.

Another reason why Putin is failing in Ukraine, Melnyk continued, is because of the deteriorating economic situation in Russia. Putin stated as much by acknowledging last week the grave state of Russia’s economy.

“Zero growth, zero reserves, increasing budget deficit and many other factors make it more and more difficult for Russia to finance the war against Ukraine and pay the salary to its soldiers,” Melnyk said. “Thus, we appeal to the United States to reintroduce sanctions against Russian energy resources as soon as possible and tighten the screws on Moscow. We also call upon other member states who used to be the biggest buyers of Russian oil, gas and diesel to stop exporting them and stop filling Kremlin’s war chest and bankrolling its aggression.”

Sadly, the only Russian accomplishment in the war is in the inhuman pain and suffering that it is inflicting on Ukraine and Ukrainians.

“Every day, civilians are murdered both in areas near the front lines and deep within Ukraine as a result of daily drone and missile attacks. We have just heard the shocking figures of the number of victims during the briefing of USG DiCarlo (Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo). I will not repeat them, they still echo in our ears.

“Russia is destroying critical infrastructure, targeting power and heat generation facilities, destroying water supply systems, and demolishing hospitals, schools, residential buildings, and businesses.

“Thousands of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians are being illegally held by Russia in inhumane conditions subjected to systematic torture. They must be released without any conditions.

“Tens of thousands of Ukrainian children have been abducted, deported, or forcibly transferred. They must return home immediately.”

Ukraine is committed to peace, Melnyk insisted, but if compelled, Ukrainians will fight for their freedom and existence as they have been doing since the latest iteration of Russia’s war against Ukraine in 2014.

But Melnyk appropriately told the global community that Ukrainians have actually been fighting their existential war against Russian cutthroats for far longer.

“Before I wrap up, allow me to address one final point.

“At our previous meeting, the representative of Russia once again recycled a familiar narrative about an alleged historical “unity” between Ukrainians and Russians.

“He even muttered something about Kyivan Rus under his breath that we — Ukrainians — had sold for thirty pieces of silver.

“Let me set the historical record straight once and for all.

“In the beginning of the 12th century, Kyiv was the capital of the largest and one of the most powerful states in medieval Europe.

“In those times, the area of present-day Moscow was nothing more than a swamp where only frogs were croaking.

“It was in 1147 that a tiny settlement on the edge of the known political world was first mentioned that later would develop into Moscow.

“It was under the powerful reign of the Grand Princes of Kyiv that Moscow was founded.

“It was Andriy Boholubsky, the ruler of Vladimir-Suzdal, today’s Russia, whose troops plundered Kyiv in 1169, murdered its citizens and looted the city’s treasures with a ferocity reminiscent of the barbarian sackings of ancient Rome.

“So, let us be honest: it was Moscow that betrayed Kyiv.

“It is Moscow that continues the same brutal policy to this day, bombing Kyiv, destroying our golden-domed churches, raping and killing civilians.

“Ukrainians do not need your distorted historical lessons about imagined “unity”.

“It’s like the egg lecturing the chicken.

“As the cradle of Ukrainian statehood, Kyiv has stood firm for more than a thousand years and it will stand for a thousand more.

“It will flourish, it will remain unconquered, Russia will fail to subjugate it.”

Melnyk concluded his address in the same manner that he began it – in the language of the Russian invader and oppressor, Melnyk insisted:  “So, let me address you again in your own language that serves as a reminder of Russian colonial legacy: ‘Закончен бал, потухли свечи. Бери шинель, иди домой.’

The party is over – the candles are out. Take your trenchcoats and get out of Ukraine.”

Fortunately, most of the free world, members of NATO and, especially the former captive nations, support Ukraine’s position on all of these points. They believe that if Ukraine falls, Europe up to the Atlantic Ocean will eventually succumb to Russia’s enhanced pressure because it’s more than Moscow, which is half of the unholy alliance that includes Iran. Ukraine will suffer, Israel will suffer and Europe will suffer.

It is unfortunate that President Donald J. Trump refuses to believe this endgame. He dangerously believes his führer-friend Vladimir Putin. He refuses to only take Ukraine’s side but rather addresses both sides equally. Trump cannot risk playing both sides against the middle. His self-proclaimed deal-making skills aren’t that deep. He is endangering the United States and its allies. He is also endangering his political career because Ukrainian American voters will not forget this betrayal.