Blinken, Lavrov come face-to-face at U.N. Security Council showdown

[brooklynite]

Source: Politico

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, face-to-face with Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov on Thursday at the United Nations, railed against Russia over its alleged war crimes and atrocities committed in Ukraine.

“That President [Vladimir] Putin picked this week as most of the world gathers at the United Nations to add fuel to the fire that he started shows his utter contempt for the U.N. charter, for the General Assembly and for this council,” Blinken said in remarks at a U.N. Security Council meeting. “The international order that we gathered here to uphold is being shredded before our eyes.”

The meeting comes just one day after Putin mobilized 300,000 reservists to aid in Russia’s war against Ukraine and threatened to use nuclear weapons. Biden blasted Putin for the escalation, saying in a speech to the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday that Russia’s attempts to “erase” Ukraine from the map “should make your blood run cold.”

The 15-member security council gathered on Thursday to discuss Russia’s war on Ukraine, alleged war crimes and “sham” referendums to be held in Ukrainian territories seized by Russia — marking one of the highest-profile confrontations between Russian officials and their critics since the Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine. Lavrov’s attendance came as a surprise to some officials, as he had in July walked out of a meeting of the Group of 20 foreign ministers in Indonesia following criticism over Russia’s war.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2022/09/22/blinken-lavrov-u-n-security-council-00058295

[brooklynite]

1. UPDATE: Lavrov walks out of UN security council meeting

The Guardian

Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, walked out of a UN security council meeting after accusing Ukraine and its western allies of “impunity” in Donbas.

Ukraine and its allies were attempting to “impose on us a completely different narrative about Russian aggression”, Lavrov argued.

Lavrov was nearly 90 minutes late for the security council meeting and appeared to want to leave as soon as he finished speaking.

Britain’s foreign secretary, James Cleverly, speaking at the council meeting after Lavrov, said the UK would support Ukraine all the way and for as long as it takes.

[BigmanPigman]

5. That's interesting.

I wonder what Putin and Russia are spooked about? Getting kicked out of security councils is one thing, but the world can see he is a cornered rat. China and India say, "You're on your own, dude".

[former9thward]

12. China and India are allied with Russia.

China, India Stand by Russia Despite Its Setbacks in Ukraine War

Beijing is seeking to deepen economic ties with Moscow, while New Delhi has increased its purchases of Russian crude and relies on the country for military supplies (Sept. 21 2022)

A summit in Central Asia last week served as a public stage for Moscow’s biggest backers to express misgivings about the Ukraine war, with Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledging that China had concerns and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying, “Today’s era is not an era for war.”

Despite those public expressions of doubt, China is staying the course in its relationship with Russia and even seeking to deepen the economic ties between the two countries, said Chinese officials familiar with Beijing’s thinking. For its part, although India is growing increasingly frustrated with the impact the war is having on the economy and developing world, New Delhi hasn’t altered its close ties with Moscow, Indian officials said.

China and India see their close relationships with Russia as a necessity, even as Russia’s forces have faced some of their biggest battlefield setbacks, officials from both countries say. China sees Russia as a strategic partner in its escalating rivalry with the U.S., and India relies on Moscow for more than half of its military supplies.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-india-stand-by-russia-despite-its-setbacks-in-ukraine-war-11663774727

[BigmanPigman]

16. Damn, that certainly ISN'T what I have been gathering from

both MSM and other reports. I am clearly very disheartened. I should not get my hopes up based on media reports I guess.

Damn!!!!!!

[Martin68]

2. I wonder if the UN can declare the results of referendums in occupied Ukranian territory

to be null and void.

[brooklynite]

4. They can and they will. Won't accomplish anything.

[Martin68]

8. "They can and they will?" How can they "declare" anything without a unanimous

Security Council vote? I'm not exactly sure what you mean.

[brooklynite]

9. It'll be a vote of the General Assembly (not subject to Security Council veto)

We're discussing legal recognition, not military action.

[Martin68]

11. No, you are discussing legal recognition, I am interested in a binding solution of any kind.

As you point out, that will require a military component.

[brooklynite]

13. You never said anything about a binding resolution.

There won't be one.

[Martin68]

14. Did you say anything about a legal solution? I feel like you've established new goal posts.

[brooklynite]

15. You asked if the UN could declare the election null and void.

You said nothing about the resolution being legal or binding.

Many UN resolutions are symbolic and expressive of opinions. This will be one of them. The UN will NOT do something that will require military action, just as they didn’t when the war started.

[Martin68]

17. And you said, "They can and they will. Won't accomplish anything." So I guess you expect us

to read your tea leaves and understand your cryptic vagueness. Sorry for taking you seriously.,

[brooklynite]

18. Let's try again...

"I wonder if the UN can declare.... "

I said they can...declare the elections illegal. And I expect they will. But the UN WON'T take action against Russia because of them.

Perhaps if you want less cryptic answers, ask clearer questions.

[Bayard]

3. Did it look something like this?

[BigmanPigman]

6. Caption: Good vs Evil

[Pachamama]

7. Make that Evil vs Good

[BigmanPigman]

10. Good point...I stand corrected!

[Kid Berwyn]

19. Blinken blasted the KGB rotter.

But for the emails.