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Russia proposes new ceasefire in 5 Ukrainian cities. Ukraine hasn’t agreed yet.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated “it’s clear Mr. Putin has a plan to destroy and terrorize Ukraine,” including that the USA is “involved that the world must be ready for a really lengthy and really tough highway forward.”
“If the final two weeks have proven us something, it’s that the Ukrainian individuals are not going to surrender. And lots of Russian folks themselves, together with many Russian troopers, don’t want this warfare,” Thomas-Greenfield stated at a UN Safety Council assembly.
Thomas-Greenfield added that “Putin is clearly prepared to sacrifice the lives of 1000’s of Russian troopers to realize his private ambitions.”
“We now have been warning Moscow for weeks that, in the long run, Russia will likely be weaker, not stronger, for launching this warfare. That is already proving true,” she stated. “The query is how a lot devastation President Putin is prepared to wreak for this monumental mistake.”
In her remarks, Thomas-Greenfield stated the US is “outraged by elevated experiences of Moscow’s assaults harming Ukrainian civilians in its unprovoked and unjustified warfare in opposition to the Ukrainian folks,” and expressed rising concern “in regards to the safety of civilians on this battle, notably girls and ladies who’re susceptible to gender-based violence, LGBTQI Ukrainians, in addition to Ukraine’s inhabitants of older adults and other people with disabilities.”
She stated her Polish counterpart instructed her 100 refugees per minute have been crossing from Ukraine into Poland.
“We additionally name for the safety and look after all susceptible kids, together with separated and unaccompanied kids and people in institutional care,” Thomas-Greenfield stated, including, “Kids ought to by no means, by no means be concerned in battle — interval.”
“Kids ought to by no means be concerned in battle. They should be protected,” she repeated.
“As UNICEF has reported, we all know already that dozens of kids have been killed in Putin’s warfare. And as we work to substantiate circumstances, we all know the precise numbers are literally far better,” she stated. “Younger kids have additionally been severely traumatized by the violence and destruction. They’ve witnessed so many issues to the purpose they’ve stopped talking. The bodily and psychological wounds of this warfare will likely be lengthy lasting.”
Thomas-Greenfield described Ukrainian cities “beneath siege, beneath relentless Russian shelling.”
“Hospitals are operating out of provides, meals is dwindling, and civilian casualties are mounting, whereas probably the most susceptible teams – these with disabilities, the aged, kids – proceed to bear the brunt of struggling. We now have seen besiegement earlier than – from Leningrad to Aleppo. These are tragedies of immense proportions,” she stated.
Thomas-Greenfield known as on Moscow to supply a “agency, clear, public, and unequivocal dedication to permit and facilitate speedy, unhindered humanitarian entry for humanitarian companions in Ukraine.”
“Very particularly, we name for the Russian Federation to conform to and honor in good religion Ukrainian proposals for time-bound humanitarian secure passage in particular, agreed upon places. We name for the institution of a ground-level notification system that may facilitate the secure motion of humanitarian convoys and flights,” Thomas-Greenfield stated.
She additionally known as on “Russia to vary course, withdraw its forces, deescalate by means of diplomacy” and stated the US helps “Ukraine’s name for a ceasefire.”
“Within the meantime, we applaud these doing all the pieces of their energy to alleviate the struggling Putin has unleashed on the Ukrainian folks,” she stated.
She famous the US is “carefully coordinating with the Authorities of Ukraine, neighboring nations, and worldwide organizations, together with these inside the UN system, to observe the state of affairs and can work with them to handle humanitarian wants each in Ukraine and within the area.”
“No matter course Russia’s invasion might take, we should do all the pieces – and I stress all the pieces – all the pieces we will do to assist the folks of Ukraine,” Thomas-Greenfield stated.
“Kyiv nonetheless stands, and we stand with Kyiv,” she concluded. “We stand with Ukrainians.”