Ukrainian foreign minister calls on OSCE to counter Russia's false rhetoric of peace

Andrii Sybiha, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, stressed in his speech at the OSCE meeting that Russia is only imitating its readiness for peace, in reality seeking to impose its aggressive goals. He called on the international community not to fall for the Kremlin's disinformation. Source: European Pravda

Details: Sybiha began his speech by saying that the meeting was taking place on the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Budapest Memorandum, one of the guarantors of which is now waging a war of aggression against Ukraine, the largest in Europe since World War II. 

Quote from Sybiha: "Moscow is trying to justify all this with so-called 'legitimate security interests'. But my people's right to exist is not a legitimate security interest of Russia. My nation's choice of future is not Russia's legitimate security interest.

In fact, Russia itself is the greatest security threat to the world... When Russians say they want peace, they are lying. They talk about negotiations only to divert attention from what they are doing.

Look at their actions, not their words. In reality, Russia continues to expand the war." Details: Ukraine's foreign minister mentioned constant air attacks, systematic attacks on energy infrastructure, which now threaten nuclear power, increasing military aid to Iran and North Korea, the involvement of the North Korean troops, and the demonstrative use of a medium-range ballistic missile.

Quote from Sybiha: "These actions require a decisive response.

Peace through strength. Not through appeasement." Andrii Sybiha noted that, after the Budapest Memorandum's experience, Ukraine cannot agree to any agreements at the expense of its interests and that today's Russia is the greatest threat to security in the region. 

Quote from Sybiha: "Russia wants a second Yalta [Conference] or at least a third Minsk [agreement]. It wants a world of zones of influence where the use of force dictates new rules and new borders. There will be no Yalta-2 or Minsk-3.

Instead, Ukraine wants a just peace. And respect for principles for all.  These are two approaches to the future that are being decided right now in Ukraine.

We must act now to make this future happen. We need to eliminate grey zones because Russia is turning them into zones of influence. Instead, we need geopolitical certainty about Ukraine as part of the Euro-Atlantic community."

Ukraine's foreign minister also expressed hope that the OSCE as an institution would join in documenting Russian war crimes and help bring Russia to justice. In his closing remarks, Sybiha also called Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov a war criminal.  Before Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov's speech at the OSCE meeting, Sybiha left the room.

The foreign ministers of Poland, Czechia and representatives of the Baltic States, Georgia, and Romania did the same.

Background:

• The day before, Sybiha had brought the original Budapest Memorandum to the NATO ministerial meeting to remind them how nuclear disarmament in exchange for a promise from the world's most powerful nations has turned out for Ukraine. 
• On the day of the NATO ministerial meeting, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said that Ukraine would not accept security guarantees as a substitute to NATO membership.

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