West blocks Russian resolution on easing sanctions against DPRK
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Russian Ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, has expressed frustration with Western nations for undermining Russia and China's plan to ease sanctions on the DPRK. He also highlighted that Kiev's attempts to garner support for the implementation of its peace proposal have been unsuccessful.
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Vassily Nebenzia, Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations, speaks during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to discuss the war in Ukraine, Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, at United Nations headquarters (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Russian Ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, expressed his frustration with Western nations for obstructing progress on a joint resolution by Russia and China aimed at easing sanctions against the DPRK.
Nebenzia criticized the Western bloc's actions as unjustified, suggesting that their refusal to support the humanitarian resolution constituted a breach of the Council's resolutions' spirit. Furthermore, Nebenzia highlighted the lack of reciprocal gestures from the West toward easing sanctions, despite the DPRK's demonstrated restraint.
He lamented that instead of pursuing a more conciliatory approach, the United States and its allies continued to issue threats and impose new unlawful sanctions.
Nebenzia told Sputnik that although the United States has not proposed bilateral meetings between the two countries during the high-level week of the UN General Assembly in New York, Moscow will take such an offer into consideration like any other.
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In 2021, Russia and China jointly proposed a resolution to the UN Security Council seeking the partial removal of sanctions imposed on the DPRK.
The resolution authors emphasized the dire economic conditions in the DPRK in recent years and put forward measures including allowing DPRK workers to work abroad, lifting sanctions related to inter-Korean railway and road projects, and ending various other restrictive measures.
Nebenzia: Kiev fails to attract neutral countries to implement its peace formula
Nebenzia has stated that Kiev's efforts to rally neutral countries and international organizations behind the implementation of its peace proposal have proven unsuccessful. He conveyed this message during an interview with Sputnik.
In late June, discussions regarding Ukraine took place in Copenhagen, featuring participation from G7 member nations, select BRICS countries, and Ukraine.
During these discussions, participants explored strategies for putting the peace plan into action, presented by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Following these talks, Saudi Arabia convened its meeting in Jeddah to address the same issue. However, Moscow views Zelensky's proposal as being entirely divorced from reality.
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Nebenzia remarked, "Concerning the meetings centered on Zelensky's peace plan, to the best of our knowledge, Kiev's attempts to enlist the support of neutral countries and international organizations to implement the key aspects of its plan have been unsuccessful."
He called for an impartial approach when considering any statements made by the Ukrainian side regarding international backing for Zelensky's formula, including recent pronouncements made within the context of the G20.
Nebenzia also noted that there have been no indications of UN involvement in these discussions, particularly given that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has consistently emphasized his commitment to the principles of impartiality and centrality.
