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☆ Ukrainian students were told to go to a Crimean 'camp' for school only to be held captive in Russia, The Washington Post reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russia has been accused of forcibly removing thousands of Ukrainian children from their homes. Some Ukrainian students were told they needed to go to Crimea for school "camp," WaPo reported. Students from Kherson, which was seized by Russian troops in March 2022, told the Post their school directors pressured them to go to the "camp." Russia has been repeatedly accused of kidnapping or forcibly removing Ukrainian children from their homes. Children taken to Russia or Russian-occupied territories have no way of returning to their country on their own, often spending months away from their homes.

Persons: WaPo, —, Denys Berezhnyi, Berezhnyi, Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Dmitry Polyanskiy Organizations: Service, Washington Post, US State Department, Street Journal, United Nations Commission, Russia's, UN Commission Locations: Russia, Crimea, Kherson, Ukraine, Russian

☆ UN to vote on rival resolutions on Israel and Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A view shows the remains of a Palestinian house destroyed in Israeli strikes in the central Gaza Strip. REUTERS/Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa Acquire Licensing RightsUNITED NATIONS, Oct 16 (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council was due to vote on Monday on rival draft resolutions on Israel and Gaza that focus largely on the humanitarian situation, but it was unclear whether either stood a chance of being adopted. A spokesperson for the U.S. mission to the United Nations declined to comment when asked about the impending votes. The Brazilian draft condemns the Palestinian militant Hamas for its attacks on Israel, while the Russian draft does not name Hamas, which attacked Israel on Oct. 7. Without naming Israel, the Brazilian text also calls for the rescinding of the Israeli order for civilians and U.N. staff in northern Gaza Strip to relocate to southern Gaza.

Persons: Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa, Israel, Dmitry Polyanskiy, Michelle Nichols, Susan Heavey, Howard Goller Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, United Nations Security, United, Security, U.S, United Nations, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Russia, Brazil, Britain, China, France, United States, Hamas, Russian, Israel's

☆ Russia asks UN Security Council to vote Monday on Israel, Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Russia's Deputy Ambassador to the U.N. Dmitry Polyanskiy addresses the U.N. Security Council meeting on the situation in Ukraine at U.N. headquarters in New York City, U.S., July 17, 2023. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Russia has asked the United Nations Security Council to vote Monday on a draft resolution on the Israel-Hamas conflict that calls for a humanitarian ceasefire and condemns violence against civilians and all acts of terrorism. A U.N. Security Council resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, Britain, France, China or Russia. The United States has traditionally shielded its ally Israel from any Security Council action. Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas in retaliation for an attack by the Palestinian Islamist group a week ago.

Persons: Dmitry Polyanskiy, Brendan McDermid, Israel, Michelle Nichols, Doina Chiacu Organizations: . Security, REUTERS, Rights, United Nations Security Council, Security, United, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, U.N, New York City, U.S, Russia, Israel, United States, Britain, France, China, Iran, Gaza, Egypt, Palestinian

☆ Russia Asks UN Security Council to Vote Monday on Israel, Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Russia has asked the United Nations Security Council to vote Monday on a draft resolution on the Israel-Hamas conflict that calls for a humanitarian ceasefire and condemns violence against civilians and all acts of terrorism. Russia's Deputy U.N. Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy said no changes had been made to the text since it was given to the 15-member body on Friday and that he expected the vote to be scheduled for 3 p.m. EDT/1900 GMT on Monday.

Persons: Dmitry Polyanskiy Organizations: WASHINGTON, United Nations Security Council Locations: Russia, Israel

☆ US to keep Russia's food exports flowing if grain deal revived, Blinken says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Russia last month quit the July 2022 deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey aimed at easing a global food crisis after Russia's invasion of Ukraine five months earlier. PRICING PRESSURESBlinken told reporters that Russia's exports of food have exceeded levels prior to its invasion of Ukraine. The United Nations has argued that the Black Sea deal helped everyone because it brought prices down 23% from a record high in the weeks following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. After Moscow quit the deal, it began targeting Ukrainian ports and grain infrastructure on the Black Sea and Danube River, sending global grain prices soaring. Moscow has said it may resurrect the Black Sea agreement if its demands to improve its own exports of grain and fertilizer are met.

Persons: Mehmet Bey, Mehmet Emin Calsikan, Antony Blinken, we'll, Blinken, Russia's, Dmitry Polyanskiy, Polyanskiy, Moscow, Vladimir Putin, Michelle Nichols, Daphne Psaledakis, Humeyra Pamuk, Katharine Jackson, Jonathan Oatis, Susan Heavey Organizations: REUTERS, UNITED NATIONS, United, United Nations, Security, Russia, JPMorgan, The United Nations, European, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Yenikapi, Istanbul, Turkey, United States, Russia, United Nations, Ukraine, Moscow, Washington, Africa, Asia, America

☆ 'Many may die' warns UN after end of Black Sea grain deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Russia quit the Black Sea grain deal on Monday, saying that demands to improve its own food and fertilizer exports had not been met, and that not enough Ukrainian grain had reached the poorest countries. The Black Sea grain deal was brokered a year ago by the United Nations and Turkey to combat a global food crisis worsened by Russia's invasion. The impact of the grain deal in terms of provisions of Ukrainian grain to global markets is "essentially not very significant," he said. Before Russia withdrew from the Black Sea deal on Monday, the U.N. had "brokered a concrete proposal" with the European Commission to connect a Rosselkhozbank subsidiary to SWIFT. "We remain open to explore solutions with the U.N. that would contribute to the resumption of the grain deal," EU envoy to the U.N. Olof Skoog told the council.

Persons: Martin Griffiths, Mikhail Khan, Sergei Vershinin, Rosemary DiCarlo, Tayyip Erdogan, Vladimir Putin, Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Thomas, Dmitry Polyanskiy, Olof Skoog, Michelle Nichols, Sybille de La, Doina Chiacu, Conor Humphries Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, United Nations, Security, United, Security Council, U.S, Russia's Agricultural Bank, SWIFT, European Union, Russia, European Commission, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine, U.S, Chicago, United Nations, Turkey, Afghanistan, Djibouti Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Moscow, Crimea, Russia's, Paris

☆ UN Security Council meets for first time on AI risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] The U.N. Security Council holds a meeting on Artificial intelligence at U.N. headquarters in New York City, U.S., July 18, 2023. "Both military and non-military applications of AI could have very serious consequences for global peace and security," Guterres said. Ambassador Zhang Jun described AI as a "double-edged sword" and said Beijing supports a central coordinating role of the U.N. on establishing guiding principles for AI. "No member states should use AI to censor, constrain, repress or disempower people," he told the council. Russia questioned whether the council, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security, should be discussing AI.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, James, Britain's, Antonio Guterres, Jack Clark, Zeng Yi, Guterres, U.N, Zhang Jun, Zhang, Jeffrey DeLaurentis, Dmitry Polyanskiy, Michelle Nichols, Aurora Ellis Organizations: . Security, REUTERS, Brendan McDermid UNITED NATIONS, United Nations Security Council, Britain's, U.N, China -, Research Center, AI, International Atomic Energy Agency, International Civil Aviation Organization, U.S, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, China, United States, Beijing, Russia

☆ Britain rejects Russia's accusation of UK's possible involvement in Crimean bridge attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 17 (Reuters) - Britain rejected accusations by Russia on Monday that British intelligence services might have been involved in an attack on Russia's bridge to Crimea. Russia's deputy U.N. ambassador, Dmitry Polyanskiy, said on Monday, without providing any evidence, that British intelligence services might have been involved in the attack that killed two, injured a girl, and damaged the bridge. "I have not heard any condemnation of this act of terrorism from any of the Western sponsors of the Kiev regime," Polyanskiy told the United Nations Security Council. "And we have yet to figure out to what extent Western, in particular British intelligence agencies, were involved in the preparation and implementation of this terrorist attack. Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne and Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; editing by Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: U.N, Dmitry Polyanskiy, Polyanskiy, Lidia Kelly, Michelle Nichols, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: United Nations Security Council, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Britain, Russia, Crimea, Kiev, Crimean, Moscow, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Melbourne

☆ Russia says it has been 'saving' children from Ukraine, not stealing them, despite widespread evidence of abductions
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Russian official said his country is "saving" children that it takes from Ukraine, not "stealing" them. "Russia is not denying that you are transporting children in their thousands from Ukraine into Russia. We've been accused of stealing children but of fact we were saving children, from Ukrainian army first and foremost." Ukraine's government said in March that, since Russia's invasion in February 2022, 16,226 Ukrainian children had been deported to Russia. "So what you did to them, if you read the Geneva Convention, is a war crime."

☆ Britain blocks UN webcast of Russian meeting on Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

UNITED NATIONS, April 4 (Reuters) - Britain has blocked the U.N. webcast of an informal Security Council meeting on Ukraine on Wednesday at which Russia's commissioner for children's rights - whom the International Criminal Court wants to arrest on war crimes charges - is due to speak. The meeting will focus on "evacuating children from conflict zone" and Russia said on Tuesday that commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova would feature virtually. Such meetings are not held in the Security Council chamber and all 15 council members have to agree to allow it to be webcast by the United Nations. Diplomats have said it is rare for a U.N. webcast to be blocked. However, last month China blocked the U.N. webcast of a U.S.-convened informal Security Council meeting on human rights abuses in North Korea.

☆ Russia isolated as U.N. marks one year of Ukraine war
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 23 (Reuters) - The United Nations overwhelmingly isolated Russia on Thursday, marking one year since Moscow invaded Ukraine by calling for a "comprehensive, just and lasting peace" and again demanding Moscow withdraw its troops and stop fighting. Just a day after China's top diplomat visited Moscow and pledged a deeper partnership with Russia, Beijing abstained on the vote - the fourth time it has done so on such action since the Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24 last year. Six countries joined Russia to vote no - Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea, Mali, Nicaragua and Syria. Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy dismised the action at the United Nations as "useless," posting on Twitter: "Will it bring peace? Western powers have provided Ukraine with billions of dollars in weapons since Russia invaded.

Russia wants the 15-member council to ask for an independent inquiry into the blasts on the pipelines connecting Russia and Germany, which spewed gas into the Baltic Sea. "The authorities of Denmark, Germany and Sweden have been in dialogue regarding the investigation of the gas leaks, and the dialogue will continue to the relevant extent." Russia has asked U.S. economist Jeffrey Sachs, of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, to brief the Security Council at Tuesday's meeting. The consequences as concerns greenhouse gas emissions are substantial and worrisome," Denmark, Germany and Sweden wrote. This means a vote could coincide with meetings of the U.N. General Assembly and Security Council to mark the first anniversary of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

☆ Russia urges Sweden again to share Nord Stream probe findings
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Lidia Kelly | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 21 (Reuters) - Russia renewed its calls on Sweden late on Monday to share its findings from the ongoing investigation into the explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines last year. "Almost five months have passed since the sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines. All this time, however, the Swedish authorities, as if on cue, remain silent," Russia's embassy to Sweden said on the Telegram messaging platform. It also reiterated Moscow's stance, without providing evidence, that the West was behind the blasts affecting the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines - multibillion-dollar infrastructure projects that carried Russian gas to Germany. Construction of Nord Stream 2 was completed in September 2021, but was never put into operation after Germany shelved certification just days before Russia sent its troops into Ukraine a year ago this week.

☆ Russia wants UN Security Council to ask for NordStream blast inquiry
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Russia wants the United Nations Security Council to ask for an independent inquiry into September attacks on the Nord Stream gas pipelines, connecting Russia and Germany, that spewed gas into the Baltic Sea. Russia gave the 15-member council a draft resolution on Friday, seen by Reuters, which would ask U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to establish an international investigation into the "sabotage" and identify who was to blame. A council resolution needs at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, Britain, France, China or Russia to pass. This means a vote could coincide with meetings of the U.N. General Assembly and Security Council to mark the first anniversary of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization have called the incident "an act of sabotage."

☆ UN to mark Russia invasion of Ukraine anniversary by urging 'just peace'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] The United Nations headquarters building is pictured with a UN logo in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., March 1, 2022. The 193-member General Assembly is likely to vote next Thursday after two days of speeches by dozens of states to mark the Feb. 24 anniversary of the start of the war. Russia was diplomatically isolated last year, when 141 states voted on March 2 to denounce its invasion and demand Moscow withdraw its troops. The United States and western allies have called the invasion an unprovoked land grab against a sovereign nation. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said last month.

☆ Frustration at UN ahead of likely row with Russia on Syria aid
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

With the death toll in Turkey and Syria passing 23,000, some diplomats expressed frustration on Friday that the 15-member council has been slow to act after Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pressed for more access to northwest Syria via Turkey. The UN Security Council needs to step up and get it done," said a UN diplomat familiar with discussions, speaking on condition of anonymity. Since 2014 the United Nations has been able to deliver aid to millions of people in need in the northwest of war-torn Syria through Turkey under a Security Council mandate. The United Nations has long said that challenges to increasing aid deliveries across frontlines include receiving timely security guarantees and approvals and a lack of funding. UN aid via Turkey reached 2.7 million people a month in northwest Syria last year, compared with 43,500 people a month who received aid from routes within Syria since August 2021.

☆ Invited by Russia, Roger Waters tells UN: Ukraine invasion illegal
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Ambassador Ferit Hoxha told the 15-member Security Council. Soon after Moscow's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, Russia introduced tough new laws on spreading "misinformation" about the war or discrediting the Russian army. Russia called the Security Council meeting on Wednesday to discuss the delivery of weapons to Ukraine and asked Waters to brief. While Waters condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine as illegal, he also said it "was not unprovoked" and he also condemned "the provocateurs in the strongest possible terms." "The only sensible course of action today is to call for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine," Waters saidUkraine's U.N.

☆ Treasury sanctions firms, individuals involved in the transfer of drones from Iran to Russia in Ukraine war
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Treasury Department announced new sanctions against three firms and two individuals involved in the production and transport of drones from Iran to Russia to aid in Russian President Vladimir Putin's war against Ukraine. The sanctions come as the U.S. and its allies look to punish individuals and organizations supporting Russia's war efforts. In addition, the Treasury issued sanctions against two individuals — Abbas Djuma and Tigran Khristoforovich Srabionov — for facilitating Wagner Group's acquisition of drones. State Department spokesman Ned Price also said Russian officials received training on the UAVs in Iran. The U.S., Britain and France said Iran violated U.N. Security Council resolution 2231 by providing the weapons to Russia.

Feb 24, on Saturday halted its role in the Black Sea deal for an "indefinite term", cutting shipments from one of the world's top grain exporters, because it said it could not "guarantee safety of civilian ships" travelling under the pact after an attack on its Black Sea fleet. During Sunday's session among the grain deal delegations, Russian officials said Moscow will continue the dialogue with the United Nations and the Turkish delegation on pressing issues, the U.N. said in its statement. FALSE PRETEXT'The Russian defence ministry said Ukraine attacked the Black Sea Fleet near Sevastopol with 16 drones early and that British navy "specialists" had helped coordinate what it called a terrorist attack. Russia said it repelled the attack but that the ships targeted were involved in ensuring the grain corridor out of Ukraine's Black Sea ports. SHIPS BLOCKEDThe grain deal had restarted shipments from Ukraine, allowing sales on world markets, targeting the pre-war level of 5 million metric tonnes exported from Ukraine each month.

☆ Russia halts Ukraine Black Sea grain exports, citing attack on Crimea
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

in the sea port in Odesa after restarting grain export, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, Ukraine August 19, 2022. Russia said the step, which will cut Ukrainian grain exports from its crucial Black Sea ports, was taken due to the drone attack and the participation of British specialists. 'HUNGER GAMES'Since Russia and Ukraine signed the U.N.-backed Black Sea Grain Initiative in Turkey on July 22, more than 9 million tonnes of corn, wheat, sunflower products, barley, rapeseed and soya have been exported from Ukraine. But ahead of the Nov. 19 expiry of the grain deal, which allows Ukrainian Black Sea grain exports, Russia has repeatedly said that there are serious problems with it. Russia will officially notify U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres shortly of its suspension of the Ukraine Black Sea grain deal, Russia's Deputy U.N.

☆ Russia raises accusation at U.N. of Ukraine 'dirty bomb' plans
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Russia on Tuesday took its accusation that Ukraine was preparing to use a dirty bomb - an explosive device laced with radioactive material - to the United Nations Security Council, voicing its concerns during a closed-door meeting of the 15-member body. Russia has alleged that Kyiv has ordered two organizations to create a dirty bomb, without giving any evidence. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has responded by accusing Russia of planning such an attack itself to blame on Ukraine. 'WASTING OUR TIME'The Security Council discussion on Tuesday was the first of three likely meetings requested by Russia this week. The move comes after Ukraine and Western allies accused Russia of using Iranian-made drones in Ukraine in violation of the resolution and asked Guterres to investigate.

☆ U.S. Defense secretary speaks with Russian counterpart as war in Ukraine enters ninth month
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Amanda Macias | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks at a news briefing at the Pentagon on July 20, 2022 in Arlington, Virginia. The call comes as the war enters its ninth month and as Ukraine continues a stunning counteroffensive to retake more of Russian-occupied territory in the east and south. "Secretary Austin emphasized the importance of maintaining lines of communication amid the ongoing war against Ukraine," according to the Pentagon. WASHINGTON – Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with his Russian counterpart Friday morning, the second known call since the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in late February. Secretary of State Antony Blinken traded barbs last month with his Russian counterpart during a U.N. Security Council meeting.

☆ Iran calls Western allegations that it supplied Russia with drones 'disappointing,' calls for peaceful resolution of war
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Amanda Macias | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Sergei Supinsky | Afp | Getty ImagesUNITED NATIONS – Iran's U.N. representative sharply denied Western allegations that Tehran supplied Moscow with a fleet of drones for use in Ukraine. The United Nations Security Council at U.N. Headquarters in New York City September 30, 2022. The three nations — also members of the original 2015 Iran nuclear deal — say that by providing Russia with drones Iran has violated a U.N. Security Council resolution. Dmitry Polyanskiy, First Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations, told reporters that the drones found in Ukraine are not Iranian but Russian-made. Dmitry Polyanskiy, First Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations, speaks to reporters at the United Nations headquarters in New York on October 19, 2022.

☆ Russia to review working with U.N. chief if he inspects drones in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Speaking after a closed-door U.N. Security Council meeting on Moscow's use of drones, Russia's Deputy U.N. Tehran denies supplying the drones to Moscow and Russia has denied its forces had used Iranian drones to attack Ukraine. Guterres reports twice a year to the Security Council - traditionally in June and December - on the implementation of the 2015 resolution. Any assessment of the drones in Ukraine would likely be included in that report. GRAIN DEALIran and Russia both argue that there is no mandate for Guterres to send experts to Ukraine to inspect the drones.

☆ Ukraine curbs power usage after Russian attacks destroy some energy plants
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Three energy facilities were destroyed by the enemy today," President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in his Wednesday night video address. Ukraine had so far shot down a total of 233 Iranian-made drones used by Russia, including 21 on Wednesday, Zelenskiy said. Ukraine accuses Russia of using Iran-made Shahed-136 "kamikaze drones", which fly to their target and detonate. KHERSON BATTLE LOOMSIn Kherson, the only regional capital Russian forces have captured since their invasion eight months ago, the Russian-appointed administration prepared an evacuation. Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded an all-Russia war effort and declared martial law on Wednesday in areas of Ukraine occupied by his forces.

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