By Karin Hiebaum
International Journalist
More than two months after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the U.N. Security Council has agreed for the first time on a joint statement. The most powerful UN body, which includes Russia as a veto power, is expected to adopt the text before the end of Friday, diplomats said. Aggressor Russia had blocked all possible council action related to the war in recent weeks.
The present draft includes language that the Council is «deeply concerned» about maintaining peace and security in Ukraine and supports the mediation efforts of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. It also recalls that all states are obliged under the UN Charter to settle their international disputes by peaceful means. According to experts, the minimal compromise is a small glimmer of hope for the body’s cooperation.
Meanwhile, in the besieged port city of Mariupol, the struggle to evacuate continues. Apparently, efforts to bring people trapped in the city for weeks to safety are underway. There have been repeated reports of buses taking civilians from the Azov steel plant to Donetsk oblast.
Ukraine: Russia violated ceasefire
However, authorities in Mariupol also accuse Russian forces of violating the ceasefire during the evacuation of the plant. Russian troops fired at a car involved in evacuation operations, the city council said. One Ukrainian fighter was killed in the process, it said.
Russia plans to capture the besieged steel plant by Monday, the anniversary of the end of World War II, according to the Ukrainian government. The heavy attacks on the steel plant’s premises clearly indicated the Russian military’s intentions.
Debate: What means does the West have?
For several weeks, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been waging war in Ukraine, with no end in sight. Solidarity with Ukraine is welding Europe and the United States together. What means does the West have to end the war? What are the consequences of alleged crimes against civilians? What might a political solution look like?
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