Ukraine’s UN envoy says his country’s patience not unlimited

Ukraine is ready for direct negotiations with Moscow in line with the UN Charter but its “patience is not unlimited,” Andriy Melnyk, Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the UN, has stated.

Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting, he said Ukraine may adjust or change its proposal, and a ceasefire along the actual line of the front is already a major compromise, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

He urged the Russian representative to leave Ukrainian territory.

Melnyk said Ukraine has “significantly changed the course of the war” over the past month and claimed that even Russian military correspondents publicly acknowledge that Moscow cannot win the war.

He further noted that the consequences of the conflict are now “boomeranging back” to Russia and Russian citizens are already feeling the impact.

The diplomat claimed that nearly 40% of Russia’s oil refineries have been damaged.

“Recent days have shown that even the air defence shield built around Moscow and reinforced with systems transferred from across Russia is unable to protect its military facilities. And this is only the beginning,” he added.

Separately, Melnyk said Ukraine has been calling for a UN Security Council resolution on a full and unconditional ceasefire for the past 15 months, adding: “Unfortunately, Ukraine’s outstretched hand has remained hanging in the air.”

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov