Defensive aid to Ukraine doesn’t prolong war; it shortens it – US

The United States categorically rejects any claims that the aid supply to Ukraine for its self-defense against russian aggression allegedly prevents the war from ending.

"Ukrinform" reports that the Deputy Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, Ambassador Richard Mills, made such a statement at the UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday.

"We unequivocally reject the notion that Ukraine's self-defense is an obstacle to ending this war. No one wants peace in Ukraine more than the Ukrainians themselves. This is a violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, not russia," the US representative said.

He noted that the Kremlin and its "mouthpieces" resort to the terminology of "peaceful settlement" and "peaceful negotiations." However, russia is not taking any steps to ensure this process, particularly regarding the withdrawal of its forces from Ukraine.

"russia is trying, again and again, to use the Security Council to divert the attention of the international community from its armed aggression against a UN member state," the American ambassador emphasized.

Mills recalled that russia initiated the meeting of the Security Council amid reports of its preparations for a new large-scale offensive against Ukraine.

"If russia wants to talk about dangerous arms supplies in this Council, let it be frank about the hundreds of Iranian drones that Tehran handed over to russia in violation of Security Council Resolution 2231," the US representative continued.

He stressed that the russians use these drones for attacks on the peaceful critical infrastructure of Ukraine in the middle of winter.

Mills also recalled the portable missile launchers that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea supplied to the russian "Wagner" Private Military Company in violation of the resolution of the UN Security Council, for which the representatives of the russian federation themselves voted.

"Everyone who considers peace in Ukraine seriously should call on russia to comply with the UN Charter, stop its merciless bombing, and withdraw its forces from the territory of Ukraine," the US representative emphasized.

For reference:

The UN Security Council will hold a debate dedicated to the anniversary of the beginning of large-scale russia's aggression against Ukraine on February 24. However, the level of representation of countries at the Security Council is still unknown, as is the list of speakers. This will become clear closer to the event itself.