Blinken Slams Russia for Killings of Ukrainian Civilians

Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned Russia for the killings of Ukrainian civilians as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine enters its sixth day, noting that Russian strikes “are hitting colleges, hospitals and residential buildings” in remarks earlier than the United Nations Human Rights Council.

“They’re destroying important infrastructure, which gives hundreds of thousands of individuals throughout Ukraine with ingesting water, fuel to maintain them from freezing to demise, and electrical energy,” Blinken stated. “Civilian buses, automobiles, and even ambulances have been shelled. Russia is doing this day by day — throughout Ukraine.”

“One can fairly ask whether or not a UN member state that tries to take over one other UN member state — whereas committing horrific human rights abuses and inflicting huge humanitarian struggling — needs to be allowed to stay on this Council,” Blinken added.

Blinken additionally issued sharp criticisms of nations, akin to China, which have did not take a decisive stance and condemn Russia for the invasion of a sovereign nation.

“Council members ought to cease utilizing language implying that each one sides bear equal duty for the unprovoked assault of 1 aspect,” he stated. “This is not evenhanded — it is fallacious — and fails to put accountability the place it belongs. The identical goes for members who argue, falsely, that denouncing human rights abuses is ‘politicizing’ the scenario. It’s failing to talk up about human rights abuses that politicizes the scenario.”

Preventing in Ukraine has intensified and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has referred to as for a struggle crimes investigation into Russia, saying that Russian forces deliberately attacked civilian targets. Russia has denied this.

“They’re killing folks and reworking peaceable cities into navy targets,” he stated in remarks final week. “That is villainous and can by no means be forgiven.”

Remarking on his conversations with world leaders and requests that Ukraine be admitted into NATO, he stated, “Everyone seems to be afraid. They do not reply. However we’re not afraid. We aren’t afraid of something. We aren’t afraid to defend our nation. We aren’t afraid of Russia.”

Zelenskyy was met with a standing ovation in remarks immediately earlier than the European Parliament during which he famous that his nation is “preventing for survival.”

“We’re preventing only for our land and our freedom,” he stated. “We want to see our youngsters alive. I feel it is a truthful one. We’re preventing for our life… We’re preventing for survival. That is the best of our motivation.”

“However we’re preventing additionally to be equal members of Europe,” he added. “I consider that immediately we’re displaying everyone that is precisely what we’re.”

Zelenskyy has requested that Ukraine be admitted to the European Union by way of an expedited course of.

Alan is a author, editor, and information junkie based mostly in New York.