The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, denounced Russia’s “savagery” in connection with the war in Ukraine during a speech at the United Nations in New York on Monday 6 June.
“The Kremlin may prohibit and prosecute the use of the word ‘war’ but that does not change the heartbreaking reality. Thousands of dead Ukrainian women, children and men. Countless Ukrainian cities bombed into rubble. This is a war. A barbaric war waged by a permanent member of this Council”, he stressed, warning that the EU would continue to support Ukraine and keep up the pressure on Russia.
Mr Michel called for accountability for those responsible for the “atrocities” and “war crimes” committed in Borodyanka. “These crimes must be, and will be, punished to hold accountable those responsible”, he promised, pointing to ongoing international investigations. Similarly, the President said that Russia was using sexual violence as a weapon of war and that sexual crimes should not go unpunished. “Sexual violence is a war crime. A crime against humanity. A tactic of torture, terror and repression. Shameful acts in a shameful war”, he said.
Mr Michel warned that the EU was determined to protect Ukrainian refugees, mainly women and children, who are “particularly vulnerable to human traffickers”.
Finally, the President of the European Council said that the Kremlin was using food supplies as a “ stealth missile” against developing countries.
“Russia is solely responsible for this food crisis, Russia alone, despite the Kremlin’s campaign of lies and disinformation”, he said, adding that blaming others was “cowardly ... pure and simple propaganda”. Mr Michel recalled that the EU had not imposed any sanctions on the agricultural sector in Russia, that sanctions against the Russian transport sector did not apply outside the EU and that the Union was doing its utmost to help Ukrainian exports and the agricultural sector. “Global food security is a top priority for the EU, and we will do everything we can to help solve this challenge and to help the developing countries”, he promised.
“To do this, we need to unlock the Black Sea”, Mr Michel said. He said the EU fully supports the UN Secretary General’s efforts to find solutions to reopen maritime routes for Ukrainian exports, will contribute to the work of the Global Crisis Response Group and is cooperating with the G7 and the African Union.
Departure of the Russian ambassador
The Russian Ambassador to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, left the room during Mr Michel’s speech. The latter then said: “[You may leave the room, maybe it's easier not to listen to the truth Mr Ambassador”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)