UN Security Council members say Russian intervention shows contempt for international law

By Mucahit Oktay

UNITED NATIONS (AA) - Members of the UN Security Council on Thursday strongly condemned Russia's military intervention in Ukraine, saying it shows contempt for international law and the principles of the UN.

Meeting in New York at the request of Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, council members reacted to Russian President Vladimir Putin's launch of a military intervention in Ukraine, calling it unacceptable.

US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas Greenfield said that Putin had completely undermined the council and declared war as they were in the meeting seeking peace.

Nicolas de Riviere, France’s UN ambassador, condemned the Russian attack and said President Vladimir Putin’s decision to launch a military operation to disable Ukraine militarily shows Russia's indifference to international law and the UN.

But China’s UN Ambassador Zhang Jun said the door to a peaceful solution to the Ukraine crisis was not yet completely closed.

Putin early Thursday announced a military intervention in Ukraine just days after recognizing two separatist-held enclaves in eastern Ukraine. The recognition drew international condemnation and announcements of tougher sanctions on Moscow.

In recent months Putin had amassed over 100,000 Russian troops around Ukraine, but repeatedly denied any intention of invading.

- Barbs between Ukrainian, Russian ambassadors

Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraine’s UN ambassador, exchanged sharp words with Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya.

Addressing the council members, Kyslytsya​​​​​​​ said the time for calls to remain calm had passed and said Putin had declared war and the Security Council has the responsibility to stop it.

Nebenzya, who holds the Security Council’s term presidency on behalf of Russia, responded that they were not being aggressive towards the Ukrainian people.

"We are only against the ruling military council in Kyiv," he claimed.

Nebenzya added that the current intervention is not a war, instead calling it a military operation.

But Kyslytsya told Nebenzia that "war criminals don’t go to purgatory, they go straight to hell!”