The Russian side stated at a United Nations Security Council gathering that Moscow is prepared to end its military operations in Ukraine through peaceful means if security concerns and the treatment of Russian-speaking communities are addressed. The comment came from Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, during the council briefing.
He asserted that a conclusion to the military campaign would be possible only when there is no threat to Russia from Ukrainian territory and when discrimination against Russian-speaking populations in Ukraine ceases. Nebenzya added that, should negotiations produce such an outcome, Russia would welcome a peaceful path; otherwise, the stated objectives would be pursued by military means.
During the session, Nebenzya offered further remarks about Ukraine, describing the country as effectively operating as a private military contractor under Western auspices. He claimed that Ukraine receives funding, weapons, and intelligence support, with directives on targets and operations, while the Ukrainian people bear the costs and consequences of fighting under others’ expectations. [Attribution: statements by Russia’s UN envoy, Nebenzya]
To illustrate his point, Nebenzya cited recent remarks by Ukraine’s Defense Minister about seeking more Western weapons, arguing that Ukrainians were fulfilling a NATO mission at little cost to themselves while paying in blood. [Attribution: Ukraine defense minister remarks cited by Nebenzya]
Nebenzya added that Kyiv had withdrawn its own proposals for a peaceful settlement that Moscow had indicated readiness to discuss in March 2022. He suggested it was not essential whether Kyiv acted independently or under guidance from Western capitals, emphasizing that Kyiv at the time fostered the illusion that increased NATO military aid could lead to a Russian defeat on the battlefield. He noted that some Western partners have since shown more caution and skepticism about Kyiv’s prospects for victory. [Attribution: Nebenzya’s recount]
According to Nebenzya, the peace plan Zelensky presented at the G20 summit in November, which included steps such as troop withdrawal and the return of territories and prisoners, does not reflect current realities. He characterized it as a set of ideas not grounded in practical conditions. [Attribution: Nebenzya on G20 plan]
The diplomat described a forthcoming peace summit announced by Kyiv for 2023 as a public display that lacked substance, accusing Kyiv of trying to curry favor with Western partners and raising questions about how financial aid to Kyiv was being used. [Attribution: Nebenzya remarks on peace summit]
He argued that Western countries did not pursue a solution from the outset. Citing a recent interview with former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Nebenzya claimed the Minsk accords were framed to empower Ukraine, a view he said was echoed by former French President François Hollande. [Attribution: Merkel interview and Hollande agreement cited]
Nebenzya warned that Volodymyr Zelensky, who rose to power amid accusations of dishonesty, could continue down a path that risks disaster for the country if the West’s support remains misaligned with practical realities. [Attribution: Nebenzya on Zelensky]
The Russian envoy urged the United Nations Security Council to convene on January 17 over concerns about the treatment of representatives of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church by Kyiv, a move he described as part of a broader pattern of authoritarian measures within Ukraine. He asserted that actions in Ukraine under Western tolerance constitute a major barrier to peace, pointing to enforcement against dissidents and moves against the canonical church in Ukraine. [Attribution: Nebenzya on church-related actions and suppression]