International Relations Are Being Tested And ‘We Must Pass This Test’
Written Originally by Jack Kerley 23 Feb. 2022.
The United Nations Secretary General António Guterres decided to step in and denounce the actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin following the Russian Army entering Ukrainian territory.
Putin’s statements officially recognising the independence of Ukrainian separatists in Luhansk and Donetsk prompted Guterres to return to the UN headquarters this morning to make a statement himself.
“Our world is facing the biggest global peace and security crisis in recent years… the entire international system is being tested and we must pass this test,” Guterres said.
“Let me be clear, the decision of the Russian Federation to recognise the “so-called” independence of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions is a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine,” Guterres said.
Guterres slammed Putin saying, “the principles of the UN charter are not an a la carte menu,” accusing him of risking “further escalation” through “ceasefire violations.”
Guterres also slammed Putin over his use of the term “peacekeeping,” calling it a “perversion” after troop movements into Donetsk and Luhansk were labelled as peacekeeping forces.
“Member states have accepted them all and they must apply them all,” he said accusing Putin of outright contradicting with the principles agreed upon in the UN charter.
Guterres pledged the United Nations support behind Ukraine accusing Putin’s actions of being inconsistent with the “friendly relations declaration of the general assembly” and went as far as to call the actions a “death blow” to the Security Council backed Minsk Agreement.
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Both the United States President Joe Biden and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that Russian soldiers moving into Donetsk and Luhansk was the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to the Associated Press.
These statements were slightly contradicted by the European Union Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrel who said, “I wouldn’t say that’s a fully-fledged invasion, but Russian troops are on Ukrainian soil,” according to the AP.
NATO and her allies, however, view these actions as an invasion and are willing to pepper Russia with waves of sanctions, the AP reported.
The first wave came on Tuesday when Biden and the 27 EU nations placed heavy sanctions on Russian oligarchs and banks, EuroNews reported.
The oligarchs targeted by Putin are Aleksandr Bortnikov, Denis Bortnikov, Sergei Kiriyenko, Vladimir Kiriyenko and Petr Fradkov, according to CBS News.
These five are members of Putin’s inner circle and deeply involved with major institutions, like the military, throughout the Russian state, CBS reported.
The United Kingdom targeted oligarchs, Gennady Timchenko, Boris Rotenberg and Igor Rotenberg, while also hitting the banks, Rossiya, Black Sea Bank, Genbank, IS Bank, and Promsvyazbank with economic sanctions, CBS reported.
Biden also announced that he will be moving additional American troops to NATO’s eastern front, bordering Russia, according to EuroNews.
Germany announced that it will be putting a stop to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline as an added punishment, EuroNews reported.
Amnesty international has given stark warnings over a potential conflict with the Russian military, accusing them of “blatant disregard for international humanitarian law,” warning of a potential refugee crisis should war break out.
Japan, South Korea, Australia and many others have also come out to denounce the actions of Russia this week, the AP reported.
Minor conflicts involving mortar rounds have occurred but no shots have been fired in direct conflict yet.