Blinken addressing the UN Security Council now. Says implementation of the Minsk agreements is a goal we all share.
Blinken: As we meet today, the most immediate threat to peace and security is Russia’s looming aggression against Ukraine.
Blinken: I am here today not to start a war, but to prevent one.
Blinken: Russian ground troops, aircraft, ships are preparing to launch an attack against Ukraine in the coming days.
We don’t know precisely how things will play out. Here is what can expect to unfold...First, Russia plans to manufacture a pretext for its attack.
We don’t know precisely how things will play out. Here is what can expect to unfold...First, Russia plans to manufacture a pretext for its attack.
A violent event or an outrageous accusation Russia will level against Ukraine govt. could be a terrorist bombing in Ukraine, invented discovery of a mass grave, drone strikes, fake or real attack using CW.
Russia may describe this event as ethnic cleansing or genocide.
Russia may describe this event as ethnic cleansing or genocide.
Blinken says he sent a letter today to Russia FM Lavrov to propose they meet next week.
Blinken: In the past few days, Russia media already begun to spread these false alarms to maximize public outrage and lay ground work for invented justification for war. Today that drumbeat only intensified.
(reading above, I believe that Blinken said they could even manufacture a terrorist bombing or other outrage in Russia. various provocation and propaganda scenarios they are vigilant for)
Even as the situation is quite grave, the presentations so far have been delivered overall in a calm way. And the session as yet has not gone off the rails, as one sometimes saw in the Syria days. Maybe because there is no clear action item expected from the meeting?
Also noting that, in addition to Secretary of State Blinken, Britain sent its deputy minister James Cleverly to address the council, and Russia sent its deputy foreign minister Vershinin to address the session.
Irish ambassador expressed concern about Russian Duma call to Putin to recognize two eastern Ukrainian provinces and effectively cancel Minsk accords. Regret Russia Federation refused to extend mandate of border mission to monitor border crossings.
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