Amid the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, defensive military assistance to Kyiv has continued while weapons and ammunition have been reportedly transferred to the Russian Federation Armed Forces, a top United Nations disarmament official told the Security Council today, stressing that such actions risk escalating the conflict.
“The supply of weapons and ammunition into any armed conflict raises significant concerns about the potential escalation of violence,” said Izumi Nakamitsu, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs. Warning against risks of weaponry falling into wrong hands, she called for measures, comprehensive pre-transfer diversion risk assessments, end-user certificates and post-shipment verifications, among others. […]
In the ensuing debate, many speakers called on the Kremlin to end its invasion. Some underscored the right of self-defence enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations while others called for a peaceful settlement of the conflict through diplomacy. Several delegations pointed to the futility of having repeated meetings on “the arms supply by the West”, requested by the Russian Federation. Läs referatet