Stop talking about Russian ‘invasion’ of Ukraine, China tells UN
According to an official, the UN Security Council is not the place to discuss the matter
Using the UN Security Council to debate the standoff on the border between Russia and Ukraine is inappropriate, and consultations would be better held in a different setting, China’s envoy has said as tensions flare in Eastern Europe.
Speaking on Monday at a meeting of the UN’s top security body, requested by the US, Beijing’s permanent representative Zhang Jun said that discussing the situation at an open assembly “does not contribute to reducing tensions.”
“Russia has repeatedly stated that it has no plans to launch any military action. And Ukraine has made it clear that it does not need a war,” the ambassador added. “Under such circumstances, what is the basis for the countries concerned to insist that there would be a war?”
According to the envoy, “the parties involved should seek to resolve their differences through dialogue and negotiations.”
“We urgently need quiet diplomacy now, not megaphone diplomacy,” Zhang insisted. “Regrettably, the US did not accept such a constructive proposal.”
Western leaders have sounded the alarm several times in recent months, claiming that Moscow could be planning to imminently launch an invasion into Ukraine, which the Kremlin has repeatedly denied.
Last week, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said that, while Moscow hasn’t yet ordered an offensive against its neighbor, Kiev was “already suffer[ing] economically and becom[ing] weaker because of the panic spread into society.”
In late January, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told citizens in a televised address that the risk of an invasion had not risen. “There is more hype about it now,” he explained. The secretary of Kiev’s National Security Council, Alexey Danilov, also sought to downplay the threat, adding that “the buildup of Russian troops isn’t as rapid as some claim.”
Speaking on Monday at a meeting of the UN’s top security body, requested by the US, Beijing’s permanent representative Zhang Jun said that discussing the situation at an open assembly “does not contribute to reducing tensions.”
“Russia has repeatedly stated that it has no plans to launch any military action. And Ukraine has made it clear that it does not need a war,” the ambassador added. “Under such circumstances, what is the basis for the countries concerned to insist that there would be a war?”
According to the envoy, “the parties involved should seek to resolve their differences through dialogue and negotiations.”
“We urgently need quiet diplomacy now, not megaphone diplomacy,” Zhang insisted. “Regrettably, the US did not accept such a constructive proposal.”
Western leaders have sounded the alarm several times in recent months, claiming that Moscow could be planning to imminently launch an invasion into Ukraine, which the Kremlin has repeatedly denied.
Last week, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said that, while Moscow hasn’t yet ordered an offensive against its neighbor, Kiev was “already suffer[ing] economically and becom[ing] weaker because of the panic spread into society.”
In late January, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told citizens in a televised address that the risk of an invasion had not risen. “There is more hype about it now,” he explained. The secretary of Kiev’s National Security Council, Alexey Danilov, also sought to downplay the threat, adding that “the buildup of Russian troops isn’t as rapid as some claim.”
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
