US, France call for Ukraine ceasefire as Moscow and Kyiv trade blame at UN Security Council

HAMILTON, Canada

The US and France urged both Russia and Ukraine on Tuesday to accept a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the war, while Russian and Ukrainian officials traded accusations over who is responsible for continued hostilities.

John Kelley, acting US alternate representative, told the UN Security Council that Washington has presented a framework proposal to both sides and said: "We believe (it) could bring about a durable and lasting peace. The path to peace must begin with a comprehensive ceasefire, immediately stopping the destruction and the bloodshed."

Blaming Russia for recent escalations, Kelley said that "regrettably, during the past few months, Russia has continued high-profile strikes on Ukraine, causing needless loss of life, including of innocent civilians."

He added that US President Donald Trump has "called on Russia to cease these attacks and emphasized the need to immediately end the war."

He also condemned Russia's growing ties with North Korea, noting that "both Russia and the DPRK have openly touted the presence of DPRK troops on the battlefield, a serious escalation and part of a military partnership that violates resolutions of this Council," referring to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the country’s official name.

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, whose country currently holds the Council presidency, was direct in blaming Russian President Vladimir Putin for obstructing peace efforts.

"Russia is waging aggression against its neighbor…violating international law, violating international humanitarian law," he said, arguing that "the sole obstacle to the implementation of Resolution 2774, which was adopted by the Security Council on 24 February, is Vladimir Putin."

Resolution 2774 marked the first non-procedural resolution on the Ukraine conflict since its inception, calling for a swift end to the war but notably omitting any mention of Russian aggression or Ukraine's territorial integrity.

Barrot called on Moscow to change course.

"Therefore, I call upon President Putin, ceasefire. Ceasefire. Ceasefire," he said.

In response, Russian envoy to UN Vassily Nebenzia rejected the accusations and said the meeting was pushed by "the most stubborn European sponsors of the Kyiv regime."

He argued that Western states were attempting to thwart US efforts at a longer-term solution.

"We further stress the fact that the Russian Armed Forces are carrying out strikes exclusively targeting objects that are related to the military capabilities of Ukraine," he said, blaming civilian casualties on "the deliberate deployment of Ukrainian air defense systems in heavily populated areas."

Meanwhile, Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa accused Russia of war crimes.

"Every day, Russia kills our children. Every day, Russia deports our children in grave breach of international law," she said.

She recalled Russia's bombardments since a US ceasefire proposal in March and said: "Russians have used nearly 8,500 guided aerial bombs…against peaceful civilians in the middle of Europe."

Betsa emphasized that Ukraine defends itself "in full accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter," adding: "Ukraine did not start this war, and we do not want this war to continue. Russia is the only source, the reason and the fundamental driving force of this war of aggression."