On March 28, Russia blocked a US draft resolution in the UN Security Council to extend for one year the work of the UNSC's Committee 1718 on sanctions against North Korea. Its mandate expired on April 30. On May 1, 50 UN members, including the US, Japan, and South Korea, said in a joint statement they were considering alternatives to ensure continued "objective and independent" monitoring of sanctions on North Korea after the expert panel's dissolution.
"Today, if our Western colleagues want to restore the same or a similar mechanism for reprimanding Pyongyang in the Council, we will not allow this. And outside the Council, any attempts to follow this path are doomed to failure, since a corresponding mandate from the Security Council is needed to consider sanctions restrictions," Nebenzya said.
The termination of the mandate caused an outrage among Western members of the UN Security Council because they used this mechanism "to denigrate the leadership of North Korea," stated Nebenzia.
Russia to Raise Topic of New Global 'Security Equation' at July 16 UNSC Meeting
Russia will raise the topic of a just world order and new global "security equation" at a UN Security Council meeting on July 16, Vassily Nebenzya said.
"We would like to propose discussing what the parameters of a truly fair world order, in which the interests of all states are taken into account, should be, the possible contribution of the UN to its construction, ways to restore an atmosphere of trust and constructive cooperation in the world organization, as well as a possible new global 'security equation,'" Nebenzia said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is expected to chair the UN Security Council meetings on July 16 and 17, Nebenzya said, adding that there is a high demand in the international community for a strategic discussion about the future of the world order.
Russia Needs Guarantees of Kiev's Non-Aligned Status, New Realities' Recognition
Russia needs clear guarantees of Ukraine’s non-aligned and neutral status, as well as recognition of the realities "on the ground," Nebenzya told Sputnik.
"I confirm that when and if our former partners 'get ready' for negotiations, our position will remain unchanged — we need clear guarantees of Ukraine’s non-aligned, neutral status and recognition of the realities 'on the ground,'” Nebenzya said.
Volodymyr Zelensky's regime is incompetent, Moscow is convinced of this, Nebenzya added.
"We have repeatedly confirmed our readiness for dialogue. And these are not just declarative statements. In April 2022, our negotiators initialed the Istanbul agreements. They were also signed by the head of the Ukrainian delegation," Nebenzya recalled.
According to him, Kiev's Anglo-Saxon "sponsors" clearly "did not need such a quick exit to a peaceful settlement, and they did everything to prevent it.
Zelensky Regime Incapable of Negotiating
The Zelensky regime is not capable of reaching any agreements, and Moscow is convinced of this, said Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, in an interview.
"Everyone saw the interview with David Arakhamia, the leader of the 'Servant of the People' faction in the Verkhovna Rada, who led the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul. He directly said that everything was ready, but then Boris Johnson (the former UK Prime Minister) arrived and said that they needed to continue fighting,” the Russian diplomat noted.
"The only logical conclusion we’ve reached is that the Zelensky regime is incapable of reaching any agreements," Nebenzya stressed.
The envoy to the UN pointed out that Zelensky signed a decree prohibiting any negotiations with the Russian leadership.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin listed a number of conditions for peace talks, namely, a full Ukrainian withdrawal from the new Russian regions, along with Ukraine maintaining a neutral, non-aligned and non-nuclear status.