Russian media reports claiming the United Nations is not pleased with the West providing tanks to Ukraine are a manipulation. UN Secretary-General spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said that the processes currently observed in Russia’s war against Ukraine are not leading to peace. However, he did not express “dissatisfaction” with the supply of Western tanks to Ukraine. On the contrary, Dujarric emphasized that he meant “a just peace in accordance with the UN Charter and in accordance with international law.” This, in turn, entails the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from the entire territory of Ukraine within its 1991 internationally recognized borders.
Social media and Russian websites are spreading claims that UN Secretary-General spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said that tank deliveries to Ukraine do not lead to peace. “The massive transfer of tanks to Ukraine cannot be considered a step toward peace, ” UN Secretary-General spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said at a briefing, when asked how he would like to address the parties to the conflict in order to avoid a worst-case scenario, given that the West is supplying Kyiv with more and more military equipment,” RIA Novosti declared. According to pro-Kremlin media, Dujarric allegedly said that the supplies of Western tanks would not lead to peace.
Such Russian media claims are a complete distortion of what Stéphane Dujarric actually said.
Stéphane Dujaric made the statement, which was widely distorted in the Russian media, at the January 26 daily press briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary General, the full transcript of which can be found here. Reporter Toshi of Kyodo News asked, “On the situation in Ukraine, with more tanks on the way to Ukraine, it seems almost certain that fighting will be intensified in the coming month. Is there something that you would like to appeal to all the parties of the conflict, to maybe in order to avoid the worst scenario you can think of?” The question itself is already provocative because it equates “all the parties of the conflict” – the aggressor Russia and Ukraine, which has been unjustly attacked and is now forced to defend its independence and territorial integrity.
Dujarric responded as follows:
“Well, the worst scenario that we can think of, it’s already a pretty bad scenario for the people of Ukraine. We’re not going to comment every time there’s new weapons coming in and what we want to see is a peace, a just peace in line with the UN Charter, in line with international law, but what we’re seeing now is not moving us in that direction, which is not stopping us from doing what we can to support the humanitarian activities, as I’ve just mentioned.”
Manipulating Dujarric’s words, Russian media fail to mention that he spoke about “peace in line with the UN Charter, in line with international law”. International law would call for the immediate and complete withdrawal of Russian troops from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders as of 1991.
Responding to the question, Dujarric did not say that he condemned or was “unhappy” with the supply of Western tanks to Ukraine. According to him, “what we’re seeing now” is not leading in the direction of peace.
During the briefing Dunjarric also mentioned the massive shelling of Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure. Dujarric stressed that millions of civilians in Ukraine were once again affected by the rocket attacks.
Dujarric said, “And our friend, Filippo Grandi, the High Commissioner for Refugees, is in Ukraine. In a Tweet, he said that he told President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that he was shocked by the destruction he saw, but was deeply impressed by the unbreakable spirit of the people of Ukraine.”
March 2, 2022, by an overwhelming majority – 141 to 5, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution rejecting the Russian Federation’s brutal invasion of Ukraine and demanding that Russia immediately withdraw its troops and abide by international law. This is what Stéphane Dujaric was referring to responding to the Kyodo News journalist’s query.
StopFake continues to debunk fakes about Russia’s war against Ukraine in Fake: Bill Gates Called Ukrainian Government One of The Worst in The World, Fake: West and Ukraine are Bringing World Closer to Nuclear Catastrophe, Fake: Paris Demonstrations Against Arms Supplies to Ukraine – Video.
