The US ambassador to the United Nations has accused Russia of “fuelling war” in Ukraine.
Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting in New York, Samantha Power said that NATO had confirmed sightings of Russian military equipment and troops entering Ukraine in the last 48 hours.
“If our message sounds familiar it is for a good reason,” Power said at the meeting. “The situation has evolved, but the root of the problem remains the same: Russia’s flagrant disregard for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
The meeting was the 26th time the Security Council had convened in an emergency session over Ukraine, again without taking action.
Russia’s deputy representative, Alexander Pankin, warned that council meetings should not turn into a farce and accused his fellow council members of “yet another foray into propaganda with new flourishes”.
The Security Council has met repeatedly on Ukraine since the crisis began early this year but little action can be taken as Russia, as a permanent member, has veto power.
For weeks, journalists, analysts, even the OSCE, have been seeing large convoys of military hardware on the move in rebel-held territory. Troops, Kamaz trucks, T-72B tanks, GRAD rocket launchers, artillery pieces. This is clearly not material looted from the Ukrainian army, as much of it is brand new, and some of them are modifications only used by the Russian military.
So if what Breedlove [NATO’s commander in Europe] has seen isn’t new, why is it news? Because he’s the Commander of NATO, that’s why. And NATO has generally pulled its punches when it comes to accusing Russia of what basically amounts to an invasion of sorts. Not any more. So, will Russian tanks be in Kiev by New Year? The military experts I’ve spoken to in Moscow say this is unlikely.
