Moscow's actions in Ukraine are being 'distorted,' says Russia's UN envoy

WASHINGTON

Moscow's actions in Ukraine are being "distorted and thwarted," said Russia’s UN ambassador on Monday, accusing Ukraine of being the source of the current war on its fifth day.

"The root for the current crisis lies in the actions of Ukraine itself. For many years it sabotaged and flouted its direct obligations under the Minsk package of measures," said Vassily Nebenzia at an emergency session of the General Assembly.

Nebenzia claimed it was not the Russian Federation that started the hostilities, drawing on Moscow saying that two eastern breakaway regions of Ukraine controlled by Russian separatists asked for Russia’s help in the face of an alleged “genocide.”

"The hostilities were unleashed by Ukraine against its own residents, the residents of Donbas and all of those who are dissenters. Russia is seeking to end this war," said the Russian envoy.

He also reiterated Moscow's concern about Ukraine someday joining NATO, another of Moscow’s justifications for the war.

"For us, Ukraine joining NATO is a red line first and foremost from the military strategic level. The deployment of NATO infrastructure in that country would compel us to adopt measures in response and this has placed us at the verge of conflict," said Nebenzia.

The US and other Western powers have accused Russia of trying to invent excuses to start a war on Ukraine, including false flag operations and the very distant prospect of Ukraine joining NATO years from now.

Since Russia's war on Ukraine began last Thursday, it has been met by outrage from the international community, with the EU, UK, and US implementing a range of economic sanctions on Russia.

Since the war began last Thursday, more than 350 civilians have been killed and over 1,600 injured, according to Ukraine’s Health Ministry.