Talking Points: Ukraine - April 6, 2023

Topics include Russian delusions at the UN, NATO expansion , and Ukrainian victory

Text Edited by Sgt. (jr) Sarah Ashton-Cirillo of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Photo credit: Sgt. (jr) Sarah Ashton-Cirillo of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

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1.      Lvova-Belova's speech at the UN Security Council 

Russia initiated an informal meeting of members of the UN Security Council with a remote speech by Maria Lvova-Belova, the Commissioner for the Children's Rights of Russia.

●      As expected, Russia is using its temporary presidency of the UN Security Council to promote and justify its war crimes. 

●      Russian authorities have detained and forcibly deported more than 19,500 Ukrainian children from their Ukraine home to Russia.  

●      Lvova-Belova is the official suspect of the ICC in the case of the abduction of Ukrainian children. However, she should only speak in front of prosecutors from the Hague.

●      The attempt of Lvova-Belova to justify her actions is a testament to  the Kremlin's awareness of its responsibility for its crimes. 

●      Every argument made by Lvova-Belova in her defense is a lie and manipulation. Statements that aren’t just lacking in truth but are often contradictory.

●      The world community  is in overwhelming agreement in assessing the situation. Fifty countries have signed a statement against the Kremlin's spread of disinformation about the large-scale abduction and illegally forced deportation of thousands of Ukrainian children. 

2.      The importance of NATO for the security of Ukraine 

On April 4, marking the 74th anniversary of the Atlantic Treaty, a decision was made on the accession of Finland to the Alliance, and a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission was held.  

●      Ukraine wants to join NATO as soon as possible. The Euro-Atlantic pathway is enshrined in the Ukrainian Constitution. 

●      The next NATO summit in Vilnius in July 2023 is an opportunity to correct the mistakes of the Bucharest summit in 2008 when Ukraine was not granted the MAP. 

●      Neither  a course of “non-alignment” nor the Budapest Memorandum protected Ukraine from Russian aggression. It is vital to ensure Ukraine has better security guarantees. 

●      The choice by Finland and Sweden to abandon long-standing policies of neutrality in favor of NATO is a testament to the Alliance's military effectiveness and global credibility. 

●      Euro-Atlantic integration is the best way to ensure the security of states that share the values of democracy, law, and international solidarity. 

●      NATO unites advanced countries. The weapons which will guarantee the defeat of the Russian invaders in Ukraine are the weapons of NATO. 

●      The Kremlin's anti-NATO hysteria is not due to the Alliance's threat to Russia but because of the inability to carry out Russian aggression against countries protected by the Atlantic Treaty. 

3.     The victorious spirit of Ukrainians 

In Ukraine, a nationwide campaign, “Let's fight for a new life,” begins, which tells about the contribution of everyone to the joint victory. The campaign's heroes are ordinary people who continue to live despite the enemy's attempts to break their spirit. The manifesto of the movement was the stanza of Lesya Ukrainka: 

“Why useless sorrows? 

We have no way back! 

Let's get to work better, 

 Let's fight for a new life!” 

●      A year of overcoming hardships now brings confidence in certain Ukrainian victories. 

●      Ukrainians survived the most challenging winter and did not break.  

●     Ukrainians thrived despite blackouts, shelling, war crimes, and terrorism.

●      Despite attempts by the enemy to break the Ukrainian spirit, society lived with dignity. Daily, Ukrainians demonstrate incredible resilience and resistance to the Kremlin’s aggression.