[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] At the United Nations Security Council, tensions are escalating as the West and Russia clash over responsibility for the missile strike in Poland. With the Russia-Ukraine war showing no signs of ending and dragging on, there is growing concern that neighboring countries could be pushed into a brink-of-war situation.
According to the Associated Press and others on the 16th (local time), Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US Ambassador to the UN, condemned Russia at the Security Council meeting held at the UN headquarters that day, saying, "This tragedy would never have happened if Russia had not invaded Ukraine and attacked civilian infrastructure."
She stated that when two missiles fell in Poland, over 90 missiles were launched at major cities including Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, calling it a deliberate tactic by Russian President Vladimir Putin. She added sharply, "It seems he has decided that if he cannot take control of Ukraine by force, he will freeze them into submission by cutting off power."
On the 15th (local time), two missiles fell in Przebod?w, a rural village in eastern Poland near the Ukraine border, killing two civilians. An agricultural machine overturned by the bombing can be seen. (Photo by Reuters)
In response, Russia countered that it was a deliberate provocation by the Polish government. Vasily Nebenzya, Russia’s Ambassador to the UN, rebutted, saying, "Poland and Ukraine provoked a direct confrontation between Russia and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)."
The day before, two missiles fell in Przewod?w, a village in eastern Poland near the Ukrainian border, killing two civilians. NATO stated that preliminary analysis indicates the missiles that fell in Poland were Ukrainian air defense missiles launched in response to Russian missile attacks.
Poland and the United Kingdom pointed out that the origin of this tragedy lies in Russia’s invasion. Krzysztof Szczerski, Poland’s Ambassador to the UN, criticized, "If there had been no Russian war against Ukraine, those innocent people would not have died." Barbara Woodward, the UK Ambassador to the UN, also pressured, saying, "This war is an inhumane attack on civilians across Ukraine."
The Russian ambassador insisted that the cause of the tragedy lies with Ukraine, not Russia. Ambassador Nebenzya argued that the fundamental cause of the incident is Ukraine’s denial of autonomy to the pro-Russian rebel regions in eastern Ukraine, which sparked the conflict, and referred to the war they are conducting as a "special military operation."
He said, "If the West had not intervened and supplied weapons and ammunition to Ukraine, there would have been no military action," urging, "Ukraine should stop indulging in delusions about the possibility of defeating Russia and try to seek peace under realistic conditions."
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