WASHINGTON 

Several UN Security Council member countries on Tuesday called on Russia to withdraw its forces from Ukraine, as the war will enter its third year later this month.

"We renew our calls for Russia to immediately withdraw its forces from Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders," Robert Wood, deputy permanent representative of the US to the UN, told a UN Security Council meeting on threats to international peace and security.

"We do know this: The Kremlin bears full responsibility for the unconscionable death and destruction brought about as a consequence of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine, in violation of the UN Charter," he said.

Russia demanded the council meeting after 28 people were killed in Saturday's attack on a bakery in the Russian-controlled Luhansk region. Moscow described the shelling as a “terrorist attack” by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Stressing that Russia continues its "relentless attacks" against Ukraine, Wood said Moscow's "aggression against Ukraine is a blatant violation" of the UN Charter and of Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

UK's Political Coordinator at the UN Fergus Eckersley said thousands of people have been killed in the 700 days since Russia’s "barbaric invasion" of Ukraine began.

"It is Russia alone that is responsible for the destruction caused by this war," Eckersley said, accusing Moscow of violating the UN Charter.

"The quickest path to peace is for President Putin to end his illegal invasion. We repeat our call for Russia to respect the UN Charter and to withdraw its forces from Ukraine," he added.

'Grave violation'

Riccarda Chanda, deputy permanent representative of Switzerland to the UN, said the Ukrainian people continue to suffer the "devastating consequences" of the war.

"We condemn this grave violation of international law and reiterate that Russia must withdraw its troops from Ukrainian territory in order to put an end to this aggression," she said.

Shino Mitsuko, Japan’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, said Russia should “correct its violations” of the UN Charter, take responsibility, and use its power for the benefit of the entire world.


"Japan once again urges Russia to stop its aggression and immediately and unconditionally withdraw from the entire internationally recognized territory of Ukraine.


"Japan will continue to stand with Ukraine as long as it takes," she said.

Ukrainian armed forces feel 'total impunity, permissiveness'

Russian envoy to the UN Vassily Nebenzia, for his part, said they called an urgent meeting of the council with regard to the missile strike by Ukraine against Lysychansk that took place on Saturday.

"I bet that today we will hear allegations that Russia convenes UNSCs on various aspects of the Ukrainian crisis way too often.

"However, we are not the ones who come up with the reasons for the meetings. It is Ukrainian fighters who have become so brutal and brazen that they commit terrorist attacks almost weekly, shelling civilian infrastructure and killing civilians on Russian territory," he said, adding that this is the fourth "terrorist attack of this kind" in the past six weeks.


The Ukrainian armed forces feel "total impunity and permissiveness," according to the Russian envoy.

"What’s more, they feel the unconditional support of Washington, London and Brussels, who do not care about the killings of civilians, broken families and ruined lives," he said.

Criticizing the US and the EU for their support to Ukraine, Nebenzia said the lethal weapons that are sent to Ukraine "are utilized to commit terrorist acts against peaceful people and civilian infrastructure in violation of international humanitarian law."

Russia launched its “special military operation” in Ukraine in February 2022. The West took Ukraine's side, imposed heavy sanctions on Russia, and has been providing unprecedented economic, humanitarian, and economic assistance to Kyiv ever since.

On Feb. 24, the conflict will enter its third year.