Diatribe at the UN

THE SHOWDOWN on the floor of the United Nations Security Council was appalling to say the least. Envoys to the world body from Ukraine and Russia made use of undiplomatic tone, and castigated each other for the unrest in the region. But remarks from Kiev’s ambassador Yuriy Sergeyev pleaded for good sense to prevail, and asked Russia to leave the crisis-ridden country in peace. That simply meant no more interference in its internal affairs as Ukraine gears up to fight the insurgents who are invoking the Russian ethnic card on the mainland. Nonetheless, the Russian ambassador to the UN was not convinced, and made a case that squarely reflected arrogance.

Vitaly Churkin, Moscow’s envoy to the Security Council, said the government in Kiev is in a state of war with its own people. He alleged that there were “neoNazis and anti-Semites within the ranks of the self-proclaimed government in Kiev”. This argument at the world body has not only complicated the crisis, but also given a fair idea as to the level of stakes that are involved as far as Kremlin is concerned. Russia by trying to speak for the arsonists and sabotagers — who are resorting to lawlessness by seizing government installations — is playing with fire. This type of attitude is unbecoming of a great power like Russia, which should have done all in its influence to tame down the Russian-speaking people in Ukraine. Moscow should realise that any more upheavals in Ukraine will directly impact geopolitical realities in the region. Kiev’s fight against insurgents has a legal writ; and the world community should back it in its endeavour to restore normalcy. Russia’s hands-off policy will be a blessing in disguise for Ukraine.

Russian and Ukrainian envoys missed the point of convergence

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