Russia's attack on Ukraine's integrity unprovoked, attempt to create pretext for further invasion: US at UNSC
India Today
The US has said at the UNSC that Russia's move to recognise the independence of two rebel Ukrainian territories was an attempt to create a pretext for further invasion.
The US at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting has lashed out at Russia for recognising the independence of two rebel Ukrainian territories, calling it a 'clear attack on Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, to 'create a pretext for the further invasion of Ukraine'.
The US representative said at the UNSC meeting on Ukraine, "Russia's clear attack on Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty is unprovoked. It is an attack on Ukraine's status as a UN member state. It violates basic principles of international law. This move by Russian President Putin is clearly the basis of Russia's attempt to create a pretext for the further invasion of Ukraine."
Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised the independence of two separatist regions of Ukraine -- Donetsk and Lugansk -- in the early hours of Tuesday. After his televised address to the nation, Putin also officially signed friendship and aid agreements with the Russia-backed separatist leaders of Ukraine.
The announcement comes after Putin convened an emergency meeting of the Russian Security Council where he talked about recognising the "independence" of Russia-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine.
Following Putin's statement, Ukrainian President Zelensky convened a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine. In a tweet, Zelensky said, "Given the statements made at the meeting of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, I held urgent consultations with Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz and convened the National Security and Defence Council."
