Key points
- UN warns of dwindling peace hopes
- Diplomatic efforts continue despite escalation
- US and UN urge immediate ceasefire
ISLAMABAD: Hope is “just barely” alive in the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, a senior UN official said Thursday, denouncing the recent “brutal surge in large-scale Russian attacks” against Ukraine.
According to AFP, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo told the Security Council that the “cautious hope” she expressed a month ago has diminished in the face of recent aggressions.
“Largest drone attack”
“According to Ukrainian officials, with 355 drones, Monday’s attack was the largest drone attack on Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion,” DiCarlo said, adding: “This topped the previous record from the night before.”
Despite no declaration of a ceasefire, DiCarlo praised diplomatic efforts in Istanbul on May 16 when Ukrainian and Russian delegations met, saying “it is encouraging that the sides have reportedly agreed to continue the process.”
“The massive wave of attacks over the weekend is a stark warning of how quickly this war can reach new destructive levels. Further escalation would not only aggravate the devastating toll on civilians but also endanger the already challenging peace efforts,” DiCarlo said.
Hope barely alive
“The hope that the parties will be able to sit down and negotiate is still alive, but just barely.”
The massive wave of attacks over the weekend is a stark warning of how quickly this war can reach new destructive levels.” – UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo
Relaunched in mid-February by Washington, talks aimed at reaching a diplomatic settlement to the conflict that erupted with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 have so far yielded no results.
John Kelley, acting US alternate representative, seemed to echo DiCarlo’s frustration, insisting that prolonging the war was not in anyone’s best interest.
“If Russia makes the wrong decision to continue this catastrophic war, the United States will have to consider stepping back from our negotiation efforts to end this conflict,” he warned.
“Additional sanctions on Russia are still on the table.”
“Good faith efforts are needed”
DiCarlo insisted that “serious, demonstrable and good faith efforts are needed –- now –- to get back on the road that could lead to a just peace.”
“A full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire is such an effort, if only an initial one,” she said.
Serious, demonstrable and good faith efforts are needed.” – UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs DiCarlo
According to the UN, a “just peace” respects sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
The Kremlin said Thursday that it was awaiting Kyiv’s response to its proposal for new talks in Istanbul next Monday.
Ukraine, which accuses Russia of buying time, seeks Moscow’s conditions before any meeting, and is calling for sanctions against Moscow to be “expanded and strengthened.”
“Inevitable military defeat”
“Russia is not signaling any genuine intention to stop its war,” Ukrainian deputy ambassador Khrystyna Hayovyshy told the council.
“Therefore, we see no alternative but intensified international pressure, political, military and economic,” she said.
Russian ambassador Vassily Nebenzia rejected her accusations, instead accusing Kyiv of “attempting to prolong the war.”
“No new anti-Russian sanctions, nor deliveries of weapons to Ukraine or any other hostile steps vis-a-vis Russia will be able to prevent the inevitable military defeat of the Zelensky regime,” he insisted.
DiCarlo acknowledged that “a peace process will not be easy, and it will take time.”
No new anti-Russian sanctions, nor deliveries of weapons to Ukraine or any other hostile steps vis-a-vis Russia will be able to prevent the inevitable military defeat of the Zelensky regime.” – Russian ambassador Vassily Nebenzia
“But it must not wait,” she insisted, according to AFP. “The people of Ukraine, especially, cannot wait.”
“No response”
According to Aljazeera, Russia said Thursday it has yet to receive a response from Ukraine over its proposal to hold another round of ceasefire talks in Istanbul next week, as Turkiye’s president urged the warring sides not to “close the door” to dialogue. Moscow said earlier this week it wanted to hold new talks with Ukraine in the Turkish city on June 2 to present a memorandum that would outline what it referred to as the key elements for “overcoming the root causes” of the war.
Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said on Wednesday that Kyiv had already submitted its memorandum on a potential settlement and called on Russia to produce its version immediately, rather than waiting until next week, saying that the meeting would not yield results without it.
