US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield mentioned “it’s clear Mr. Putin has a plan to destroy and terrorize Ukraine,” including that the US 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 persons are not going to surrender. And plenty of Russian individuals themselves, together with many Russian troopers, don’t want this battle,” Thomas-Greenfield mentioned at a UN Safety Council assembly.
Thomas-Greenfield added that “Putin is clearly prepared to sacrifice the lives of hundreds of Russian troopers to attain his private ambitions.”
“We’ve got been warning Moscow for weeks that, in the long run, Russia shall be weaker, not stronger, for launching this battle. That is already proving true,” she mentioned. “The query is how a lot devastation President Putin is prepared to wreak for this monumental mistake.”
In her remarks, Thomas-Greenfield mentioned the US is “outraged by elevated stories of Moscow’s assaults harming Ukrainian civilians in its unprovoked and unjustified battle towards the Ukrainian individuals,” 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 folks with disabilities.”
She mentioned her Polish counterpart instructed her 100 refugees per minute have been crossing from Ukraine into Poland.
“We additionally name for the safety and take care of all susceptible youngsters, together with separated and unaccompanied youngsters and people in institutional care,” Thomas-Greenfield mentioned, 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 youngsters have been killed in Putin’s battle. And as we work to verify circumstances, we all know the precise numbers are literally far better,” she mentioned. “Younger youngsters 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 battle shall 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, youngsters – proceed to bear the brunt of struggling. We’ve got seen besiegement earlier than – from Leningrad to Aleppo. These are tragedies of immense proportions,” she mentioned.
Thomas-Greenfield referred to as on Moscow to supply a “agency, clear, public, and unequivocal dedication to permit and facilitate rapid, unhindered humanitarian entry for humanitarian companions in Ukraine.”
“Very particularly, we name for the Russian Federation to comply with and honor in good religion Ukrainian proposals for time-bound humanitarian secure passage in particular, agreed upon areas. We name for the institution of a ground-level notification system that can facilitate the secure motion of humanitarian convoys and flights,” Thomas-Greenfield mentioned.
She additionally referred to as on “Russia to vary course, withdraw its forces, deescalate by way of diplomacy” and mentioned 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 individuals,” she mentioned.
She famous the US is “intently coordinating with the Authorities of Ukraine, neighboring international locations, and worldwide organizations, together with these inside the UN system, to watch 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 are able to do to assist the individuals of Ukraine,” Thomas-Greenfield mentioned.
“Kyiv nonetheless stands, and we stand with Kyiv,” she concluded. “We stand with Ukrainians.”
