London, 2 March 2022 (update) – Today’s United Nations General Assembly adopted non-binding resolution to condemn Russia and ask its immediate withdrawal from Ukraine.
Ukrainian Permanent representative to the UN Sergiy Kyslytsya said attacks of Russia targeting civilians in the ongoing conflict “amount to genocide” mentioning the use of banned weapons.
Ukraine Ambassador to the UN Sergiy Kyslytsya Photo © United Nations
As yesterday, Antony Blinken’s words questioned legitimacy of Russia as member of UN Human Rights Council, good news not only for Kyslytsya, but also for the entire world. US Secretary of State addressing the Human Rights Council asked “why a UN member that tries to take over another UN member state while committing horrific human rights abuses and causing immense humanitarian suffering, should be allowed to remain in the Council?”. These words added up to the growing support for the suspension (or kick out) of Russia also from the UN Security Council, where it is using its veto power to block the vote on condemnation and request of withdrawal from Ukraine.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressing the UN Human Rights Council
The International Criminal Court is giving also confirmation and more ground to Blinken’s words, setting two hearings for war crimes in Ukraine on 7 and 8 March. There’s clearly sufficient legal evidence which can pave the way to the chance to expel Russia also from the UN Security Council for war crimes.
As Putin’s generals are targeting civilians, using banned weapons such as cluster bombs, committing atrocities, Russia’s sit in the Security Council is under fire as days ago Putin’s regime vetoed a resolution to stop its own war against Ukraine. The ‘veto rule’ is sparking outcry globally and revived awareness of how the P5 nuclear powers in the Security Council are blocking the maintenance and enforcement of peace.
The unfolding tragedy is making millions of people aware of the urgent need for a change of the rules.
The structural inaction of the UN makes its commitments, such as Responsibility to Protect and Chapter VII, dead letter, while millions of people are watching the unbearable cruelty, violation of human rights and international laws, breach of all treaties and nuclear threat to humanity: the Nazi history repeating itself, with the same patterns.
The core of this international crisis is the nuclear deterrent: as we’re facing an existential threat, the only way out of it is to find a path to neutralise Russia in the Security Council and unblock the UN in order to trigger Chapter VII. Why? Because a direct intervention of NATO (or US) will mean total war. Only Blue Helmets, if massively deployed, can keep the conflict within Ukrainian borders and ensure external help can reach the country.
One more hint over the last hours of a possible positive outcome of a revolution in the Security Council came from India: today Macron, in one of his frantic rounds of diplomatic calls, spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi who, for the first time, referred to the invasion of Ukraine as a violation of sovereignty and agreed on the importance of reaching a ceasefire as soon as possible, guaranteeing unimpeded humanitarian access and maintaining close coordination, in particular within the framework of the UN Security Council. A notable change from the last Security Council when India abstained in the vote to condemn Russia.
While Putin is maximising his threat to make the most in time before sanctions hit hard, with the backing of Lukashenko, the immediate changes the West democracies need to face the menace are too slow. And this could be very dangerous.
Talkeurope.org 