Latest news with #VassilyNebenzia
Al Mayadeen
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Mayadeen
US 'opened a Pandora's Box': Russia's UN envoy on aggression on Iran
Russia has issued a strong condemnation of the United States' aggression against Iranian nuclear facilities, warning that the attack could unleash uncontrollable consequences for the region and beyond. Speaking at the UN Security Council on Sunday, Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia declared that Washington has 'opened Pandora's Box,' setting the stage for future crises. 'The US has opened a Pandora's Box, no one knows what new catastrophes and suffering it will bring,' Nebenzia said, addressing the international body during an emergency session on the escalating situation between Iran and "Israel". The US carried out overnight airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan. The aggression, ordered by President Donald Trump, was framed by Washington as a move to cripple Iran's nuclear capabilities. Trump warned that Tehran must agree to 'end this war' or face more severe consequences. Nebenzia condemned the strike as a dangerous and provocative action against the Islamic Republic of Iran, a sovereign member state of the United Nations. Read more: Wave of regional, int'l condemnations follows US airstrikes on Iran 'Russia condemns in the most decisive terms the irresponsible, dangerous, and provocative actions committed by the USA against the Islamic Republic of Iran,' he stated. He added that such actions are likely to exacerbate the situation and pose a serious threat to regional and international security. According to the Russian envoy, Washington has shown no genuine interest in pursuing diplomacy with Tehran. 'Our [US] colleagues are clearly not interested in diplomacy today, and responsibility for this falls squarely on the shoulders of US leadership,' Nebenzia declared. He further criticized Washington for publicly flaunting its role in the strikes, calling it a reckless move that discredits any claim to a peaceful resolution. Read more: Trump used nuclear talks as cover to launch war on Iran: The Atlantic Calling for immediate de-escalation, Nebenzia urged both the United States and 'Israel' to halt all aggressive actions and return to diplomacy. 'We call for an immediate cessation of aggressive actions by Israel and the US, restraint on the part of all parties, and return into the fold of international diplomacy and the negotiations process,' he said. He also appealed to the UN Security Council to take concrete steps by issuing a collective decision declaring any strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure as unacceptable under international law. Read more: China slam US strikes on Iran nuclear sites Read more: Wave of regional, int'l condemnations follows US airstrikes on Iran Read more: Wave of regional, int'l condemnations follows US airstrikes on Iran
Russia Today
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
West waging ‘centuries-old war' against Moscow – Russia's top UN diplomat
Western nations are using Ukraine as their proxy in a longstanding confrontation with Russia, which is deeply rooted in history, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia has told RT's Rick Sanchez. In an interview on Sanchez Effect aired on Friday, Nebenzia argued that the conflict 'should be seen in a larger context.' 'They do not care about Ukraine. This is not a war between Russia and Ukraine,' he said. 'Ukraine is a proxy in this war. This is a centuries-old war of the West against Russia, starting with the Polish invasion in the 17th century.' Nebenzia cited Napoleon's invasion of Russia, the 1854-56 Crimean War, Western military intervention during the Russian Civil War, and the invasion by Nazi Germany and its allies in World War II. He stressed that Hitler's army included not only Germans, but also units drawn from allied countries and occupied territories. The Ukrainians and 'their sponsors' in the West sabotaged the 2014-15 Minsk accords, which were aimed at ending the conflict between Kiev and the breakaway Donbass republics, the Russian diplomat said. Former French President Francois Hollande and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel later admitted that the agreement was used by Kiev to buy time and rearm, Nebenzia stated. 'We are not going [to fall] into the same trap once again,' he said. He added that politicians such as former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson similarly helped derail the 2022 peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. Ukraine's European backers were forced to adjust their position, Nebenzia argued, after US President Donald Trump launched efforts to broker peace and Ukrainian troops began losing more ground. 'They changed their rhetoric from 'We should inflict strategic defeat on Russia' to 'Russia should not win in this war.' Now they are advocating for a full, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire, which is testimony that they want to shield and protect their proxy, as they are obviously losing on the battlefield,' he said. Nebenzia added that the resumption of direct Russia-Ukraine negotiations earlier this year provides hope that the conflict will be resolved soon.
Russia Today
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Zelensky is ‘politically dead' – Russia's top UN diplomat
Ukraine's 'expired' leader Vladimir Zelensky is 'politically dead' and refuses to step down to avoid accountability for his actions, Russian UN envoy Vassily Nebenzia has told RT's Rick Sanchez. In an interview on Sanchez Effect aired on Friday, Nebenzia accused Zelensky of betraying the promises that brought him to power and dragging Ukraine into a wider conflict. He referenced Zelensky's campaign pledge to end the fighting in Donbass, which the Kiev regime and its Western backers derailed by violating the 2014-15 Minsk agreements. 'Zelensky came to power on the promise to end the war in Donbass... He promised one thing, but he turned 180 degrees… Politically, Zelensky is already dead,' Nebenzia stated. Nebenzia said Zelensky is holding on to power to avoid the consequences of prolonging the conflict with Russia and misusing Western funds provided as aid. 'The end of his presidency may entail something for him that he is trying to avoid at all costs: Reporting on the money stolen and the loss of the people whom he failed miserably,' Nebenzia stated. 'So he has all the reasons... to cling to power and not to hold elections.' Ukrainians are our brothers, no doubt about it. But the clique that came to rule them – it is a regime, it is not a government. 'They stole billions of dollars out of the aid they were receiving. That's an open secret,' he said, adding that Kiev has already been asked to report on the aid but has failed to do so. 'I think that when finally it comes to it, the revelations will be very dire.' Zelensky has remained in office since his term expired in May, suspending elections due to martial law. He insists that he has the right to remain in office, though the constitution stipulates that presidential duties should pass to the parliament speaker. Russia has said it is open to talks with Ukraine but questions the legality of any deals made with the current government in Kiev. President Vladimir Putin recently said he would meet with Zelensky but called into question his authority to sign a treaty, as 'the signature must come from legitimate authorities, otherwise, whoever comes after [Zelensky] will toss it to the dumpster.'
Russia Today
28-06-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
The West waging ‘centuries-old war' against Moscow – Russia's top UN diplomat
Western nations are using Ukraine as their proxy in a longstanding confrontation with Russia that is deeply rooted in history, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia told RT's Rick Sanchez. In an interview on The Sanchez Effect aired on Friday, the diplomat argued that the conflict 'should be seen in a larger context.' 'They do not care about Ukraine. This is not a war between Russia and Ukraine,' Nebenzia said. 'Ukraine is a proxy in this war. This is a centuries-old war of the West against Russia, starting with the Polish invasion in the 17th century,' he added. As examples of earlier confrontations, Nebenzia cited Napoleon's invasion of Russia, the 1854–1856 Crimean War, Western military intervention during the Russian Civil War, and the invasion by Nazi Germany and its allies during World War II. He emphasized that Hitler's army included not only Germans, but also units drawn from allied countries and occupied territories. The Ukrainians and 'their sponsors' in the West sabotaged the 2014–2015 Minsk accords, which were aimed at ending the conflict between Kiev and the breakaway Donbass republics, the Russian diplomat said. Former French President Francois Hollande and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel later admitted the agreement was used by Kiev to buy time and rearm, Nebenzia stated. 'We are not going [to fall] into the same trap once again,' he said. He added that politicians like former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson similarly helped derail the 2022 peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. Ukraine's European backers were forced to adjust their position, Nebenzia argued, after US President Donald Trump launched efforts to broker peace and Ukrainian troops began losing more ground. 'They changed their rhetoric from 'We should inflict strategic defeat on Russia' to 'Russia should not win in this war.' Now they are advocating for a full, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire, which is testimony that they want to shield and protect their proxy, as they are obviously losing on the battlefield,' he said. At the same time, Nebenzia noted that the resumption of direct Russian-Ukrainian negotiations earlier this year provides hope that the conflict could be resolved soon.
Russia Today
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Western states lied about Iran's nuclear program – Russia's UN envoy
The US and Israel have spread disinformation about Iran's nuclear program as a pretext for attack, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia has said. Speaking at the UN Security Council on Tuesday, the diplomat condemned the strikes on Iranian nuclear sites as illegal under international law and said they had 'created a real threat' of radioactive contamination. Nebenzia noted that the reports of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which carries out inspections in Iran, serve as proof of 'the absence of proliferation risks.' 'We want to emphasize that nowhere in the IAEA reports is there any mention of Iran converting its nuclear stockpiles for undeclared or military purposes,' Nebenzia said. The IAEA has found no evidence indicating the development of nuclear weapons by Iran. Therefore, all claims by Western delegations to the contrary are falsehoods aimed at audiences either unfamiliar with the reports or lacking competence on the matter. Nebenzia described the attack on Iran as 'yet another attempt to legitimize the use of force outside the framework of the UN Charter.'IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi told Sky News last week that there was no evidence of 'any systematic effort' by Iran to manufacture nuclear weapons. He added, however, that the agency had 'elements of concern' about Iran's enrichment of uranium to 60%. During a press conference in New York on Tuesday, Israeli envoy Danny Danon reiterated his government's position that Israeli strikes, which began on June 13, were aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Iran, which denies having a military nuclear program, has condemned the attack as an act of aggression and announced plans to restrict its cooperation with the IAEA. The US-brokered ceasefire between Iran and Israel took effect on Tuesday and has so far been upheld.
