Vladimir Putin has lost touch with reality, says Mélanie Joly | War in Ukraine
Canada is among 38 countries that have tabled a resolution calling for peace and that Russia be held accountable for the “serious human rights and humanitarian consequences” of the ongoing war.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said that Russian President Vladimir Putin was losing touch with reality, a year after his invasion of Ukraine.
As we mark this grim occasion, the Russian Federation's new invasion and unlawful war of aggression against Ukraine rages on, Ms. Joly told the UN General Assembly on Wednesday. .
The minister was speaking in New York on the eve of the anniversary of the Russian invasion, ahead of a vote by all UN member states on whether to condemn Moscow and to call on him to end the war.
Canada is among 38 countries that have presented a resolution calling for peace and for Russia to be held responsible for the grave human rights and humanitarian consequences of the ongoing war.
The vote follows two similar votes that the General Assembly passed, but not unanimously.
Ms. Joly argued that Russia does not respect the UN charter and abuses the right of veto that it holds as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
“By its words and actions, Russia is showing us very clearly that it does not respect this assembly and the members represented here. »
— Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Russia has been spreading disinformation and conspiracy theories online, in our countries and in this chamber, she added.
Minister Joly argued that Russia must stop the conflict in order to end the growing suffering of nations around the world, as the cost of living rises and people seek refuge from the war.
She also condemned Mr Putin's national speech on Tuesday, in which he announced that he was ending part of Russia's cooperation with the United States. United on nuclear security.
Russian President Vladimir Putin during his annual address to the nation
Vladimir Putin also argued that the democratically elected Ukrainian government is in fact an illegitimate neo-Nazi regime.
Ms. Joly said it was reckless for Mr. Putin to quit the nuclear treaty and railed that his speech amounted to recycled war nonsense.
“President Putin is entirely responsible for this war and his last speech proves that he remains detached from this reality. »
— Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs
His speech comes at a time when developing countries are complaining of feeling pressured to choose sides between invading Russia and opposing it from the West.
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At last weekend's Munich Security Conference, countries like Colombia argued that the conflict was diverting funding and attention away from the climate crisis, while others, such as Namibia, said the focus should be on ending the violence instead of assigning blame.
Ms. Joly reminded her peers on Wednesday that voting is not about choosing sides in a larger geopolitical turf war. It is about choosing peace – a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, she said.
It is about choosing rules rather than chaos and to make it clear that no one, now and in the future, can ignore the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, she added. /p>
At another event earlier Wednesday hosted by UN states that support Ukraine, Ms. Joly revealed that Ottawa is preparing to meet psychological and psychological needs. infrastructure in that country when the conflict ends.
“There is no choice but victory for Ukraine. Canada will be there to support Ukraine's fight for freedom for as long as it takes. »
— Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs
The Minister of Foreign Affairs visited Ukraine last week and had talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as with the Ukrainian Prosecutor General, Andriy Kostin, who told him that his country had already recorded 60,000 war-related criminal acts.
Global Affairs Canada points out that since Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, Canada has imposed sanctions, often in coordination with its allies, on 2,226 individuals and entities in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.
Since the beginning of last year, Canada has pledged more than $5 billion in dollars to directly support Ukraine, including financial, military and humanitarian assistance.
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