Numerous dignitaries have exited Russia’s address to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva as a show of solidarity with Ukraine.
The representatives, which included the ambassadors from France, Germany, and Britain, assembled outside the venue where the session was held to commemorate three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“Our commitment to Ukraine is unwavering.”
“We aspire to a fair and lasting peace that aligns with the UN charter,” stated Britain’s Ambassador to the UN and World Trade Organization, Simon Manley.
“If we allow what transpired in Ukraine to pass without response…we risk dismantling the core principles upon which the UN was established,” remarked France’s Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont.
Washington’s chair at the Human Rights Council remained vacant following US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the organization, which is the singular intergovernmental body dedicated to the protection of human rights.
During his address to the council, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin charged Ukraine with a “blatant breach of fundamental human rights,” labeling it as Russophobic.
“Ensuring human rights and freedoms cannot coexist with double standards,” Mr. Vershinin further commented.
Ukraine’s representative denounced Russia for its violation of international law.
“The aggressor must face consequences; aggression should not be rewarded,” asserted Ukraine’s Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mariana Betsa, to the council.
Following her address, she emphasized that there should be no bilateral negotiations with Russia.
“The EU needs to be involved, as does the US. Nothing should be decided about Ukraine without Ukraine,” she insisted, underscoring the need for clear security assurances for her country.
The UN Security Council passed a resolution drafted by the US that adopts a neutral position regarding the conflict, reflecting Mr. Trump’s reversal of US policy on Ukraine and his more accommodating approach towards Russia.
Read more: A White House official expresses skepticism regarding Zelensky’s invitation to finalize a minerals agreement.
