Ukraine's representative to UN explains why Russia is derailing peace talks

Andrii Melnyk, Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, has told a UN Security Council meeting that Russia has failed to achieve any of its strategic objectives in the war against Ukraine and is attempting to derail negotiations by putting forward unrealistic demands.

Source: Melnyk at the UN Security Council meeting, as reported by Ukrinform

Details: Melnyk stressed that Russia is trying to create a false impression of the situation on the battlefield.

"What we are witnessing is a carefully staged performance that Russia continues to play," he said. On the one hand, the situation for the Kremlin on the battlefield is steadily worsening, while on the other, Moscow continues to create an illusion of invincibility, portraying itself as being on the verge of complete victory and Ukraine's capitulation.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin's negotiating position is based on bluff and lies. The bluff lies in the claim that Russia will inevitably defeat Ukraine, while the lie is that Putin would accept anything short of Ukraine's effective capitulation.

Russia has failed to achieve any of the objectives of its full-scale invasion, Melnyk said, adding: "We are dealing with the longest 3-day blitzkrieg in human history, dragging on for over 4 years now."

He noted that the Russian forces, which describe themselves as the world's second-strongest armed forces, had taken three and a half years to occupy only 9,300 sq km. It would take Russia 183 years to occupy the entire territory of Ukraine at the current pace.

Quote: "That is exactly the reason why Putin demands that Ukraine abandon, without a fight, territories in the Donetsk region that Moscow has failed to occupy over 12 years of its aggression.

By turning such ultimatums into preconditions for negotiations, what we observe now, Russia is deliberately obstructing the peace process."

Details: In particular, Moscow is simultaneously demanding that elections be held in Ukraine while refusing to agree to a ceasefire, which is essential for any electoral process.

Melnyk also said Ukrainian forces have managed to change the situation on the battlefield: "In February alone, the Ukrainian army liberated a territory the combined size of Queens and Brooklyn."

Meanwhile, Russia is facing serious economic difficulties.

Quote: "Zero growth, zero reserves, increasing budget deficit and many other factors make it more and more difficult for Russia to finance the war against Ukraine."

Details: Melnyk stressed that "irrespective of all Russian tricks abusing diplomacy as a tool of delay – aimed at gambling on reduced international support for Kyiv – we remain fully committed to the restoration of peace".

He added that Ukraine has never been and will never be an obstacle to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.

Quote: "We will spare no effort to continue negotiations under US leadership towards this goal."

Previously: It was reported that the UN Security Council would convene on Monday 23 March at the request of the Ukrainian delegation to discuss Russia's missile attacks on Ukraine.

Background: Melnyk told the Security Council in January that a just peace for Ukraine is impossible without holding Russia accountable for crimes committed during the war.

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