Russia and the West continue to trade accusations over the causes and responsibility for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. On Monday, Russia's U.N. Ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, accused the West of sabotaging agreements that could have prevented the war, while the U.S. and its allies placed the blame squarely on Moscow, stating that President Vladimir Putin had ordered the invasion.
The Russian ambassador pointed to the failure to implement the 2015 Minsk agreements, which aimed to resolve the conflict between Ukraine and Russia-backed separatists. Nebenzia placed the blame for this failure on 'Kyiv's sabotage,' supported by the West. He claimed that if the Minsk agreements had been implemented, the tragedy that Ukraine is facing today could have been avoided.
However, the U.S. deputy ambassador, Robert Wood, dismissed Russia's claims as 'significant myths and disinformation.' He accused Russia of rewriting history and reiterated that it was Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in violation of the U.N. Charter that initiated the conflict. Wood emphasized that Russia had negotiated and signed the Minsk agreements but failed to fulfill its commitments.
Wood went on to argue that Russia trained and supported separatist forces in eastern Ukraine as a means to undermine the stability of its neighboring country. He also highlighted Putin's recognition of the so-called independent entities in Ukraine, which he believed nullified the Minsk agreements once and for all. In Wood's view, Russia was the aggressor, and Ukraine was simply defending its people, territorial integrity, and freedom.
Adding his voice to the discussion, Britain's Deputy U.N. Ambassador, James Kariuki, condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine as unprovoked, unnecessary, and illegal. He characterized Putin as someone who was never interested in peace. Kariuki accused Russia of distorting history and justifying its invasion and ongoing war through desperate efforts. He reiterated the United Kingdom's support for Ukraine and its commitment to standing against Russian disinformation.
As the seventh anniversary of the signing of the Minsk peace plan approaches, tensions between Russia and the West regarding the conflict in Ukraine remain high. Russia continues to blame the West for sabotaging agreements, while the U.S., Britain, and their allies hold Russia responsible for the invasion and subsequent destabilization of Ukraine. The ongoing war continues to have devastating consequences for the Ukrainian people, and a resolution to the conflict seems distant amidst these ongoing accusations and disagreements.
