US and Chinese ambassadors to UN take swipes over Ukraine crisis

Both US and China’s diplomats to the UN traded barbs, accusing each other of detrimentally affecting the ongoing crisis at Ukraine’s borders, with an imminent threat of invasion from Russia. 

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador stated that China should help temper Russia’s behaviour. Her remark drew remarks from her Chinese counterpart. Speaking to CNN, Thomas-Greenfield said, “We would hope that the Chinese would play a role in encouraging the Russians to do the right thing”. She further urged that China should help de-escalate the presence of Russian troops at Ukraine’s borders. 

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To this end, Thomas-Greenfield also noted that Beijing had previously clarified its position about supporting regional stability and opposing any attempts to adjust international borders forcefully. The ambassador then stated, “This is exactly what the Russians are doing – they are threatening the integrity of a border, so for China to deliver that message would be extraordinarily important”. 

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Zhang Jun, China’s ambassador to the UN, responded to her remarks on Twitter, saying “Our message is consistent and clear: Resolve any differences through diplomacy. Stop hyping up the tension. Russia’s legitimate security concerns should be seriously addressed. I’m sure my US counterpart has heard my remarks made at the Security Council the other day”.

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In recent times, Russia and China have strengthened relations, even presenting a united front at the Beijing Winter Olympics. Notably, the UN Security Council – where the US, Russia, and China are all permanent members – is slated to meet next week to discuss the ongoing war between the Ukrainian government and pro-Russian separatists in the Donbas region. 

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Russia called the meeting and has encouraged that the Minsk Accords be implemented. They’re a set of ceasefire proposals brought up with Ukraine during talks in Belarus in 2015. Notably, China too had proposed the Minsk agreement as a way to de-escalate the situation, while communicating with the US regarding the Russian troop buildup at Ukraine’s border.