Dozens of envoys walked out in protest during Russia’s speech at the UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday in a show of support for Ukraine on the third anniversary of Moscow’s ongoing full-scale invasion.
French, German, and British ambassadors were among those who walked out as Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin took the podium. The diplomats met outside to reassert their unshakeable support for Ukraine.
Ours is ironclad support for Ukraine. We would like to see a peace that is right and lasting in accordance with the UN Charter,” declared Britain’s UN and World Trade Organization Ambassador, Simon Manley, who walked out of the session as soon as Russia’s statement started.
France’s Ambassador, Jerome Bonnafont, cautioned that inaction against Russia would erode the very principles upon which the UN was established. Washington’s seat was vacant, a result of the move by former US President Donald Trump to pull out of the Human Rights Council.
In his address, Vershinin blamed Ukraine for the violation of basic human rights, saying the nation cultivated “Russophobia.” He was also critical of what he referred to as the West’s “double standards” on human rights.
Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Mariana Betsa, replied to Russia’s assertions by insisting that the aggressor should be punished. “The aggressor should be punished, aggression should not be rewarded,” she said at the council. In conversation with Reuters afterwards, she dismissed the notion of direct talks with Moscow. “The EU should be there, as should the US Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine,” she said, demanding explicit security guarantees.
The walkout came after the UN Security Council adopted a US-sponsored resolution on Monday that took a neutral position on the conflict, a move consistent with Trump’s pivot toward a more conciliatory policy toward Russia.