United States and Western Allies Accuse Russia of Violating U.N. Charter in Ukraine War

During a Security Council meeting chaired by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the United States and Western allies criticized Russia for the ongoing war in Ukraine. Lavrov defended his country’s “special military operation” in Ukraine, reiterating claims that Kyiv is the real aggressor. However, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., accused Russia of violating the U.N. Charter, stating that their “illegal, unprovoked and unnecessary war runs directly counter to our most sacred principle: that a war of aggression and territorial conquest is never, ever acceptable.” She also called for the immediate release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who are currently held in Russian penal colonies.

U.N. Secretary-General and Japan’s Envoy Criticize Russia’s War

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres criticized Russia’s war, stating that it was in violation of the United Nations Charter and international law. He also called for the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a U.N.-backed deal that established a humanitarian sea corridor for Ukrainian agricultural products. Japan’s envoy also blasted Moscow’s war and demanded an immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine. Ishikane Kimihiro, permanent representative of Japan to the United Nations, called the Russian Federation’s aggression an outright defiance of the principle of the U.N. Charter. He added that it was an irony that Russia, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, continues its unilateral aggression against Ukraine while hosting an open debate on effective multilateralism through the defense of the principle of the U.N. Charter. The war has caused massive suffering and devastation to Ukraine and its people, with billions of people around the world feeling the brunt of higher energy prices and food insecurity because of the conflict.