UNSC not helping resolve problem around Kerch Strait incident

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is not helping resolve the problem around the Kerch Strair incident, Russia's First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Dmitry Polyansky told the UNSC emergency session on Monday. The UNSC has earlier rejected the Russian-proposed agenda for the meeting on Ukraine's violation of the Russian state border in the Sea of Azov.

"You are now more concerned not with how to resolve the problem, but with which agenda to pick for today's session," Polyansky said. "To be honest, this reminds of the confrontation on the playground."

According to the diplomat, the confrontation in the Kerch Strait "has been planned in advance with absolute connivance of Western countries, which already gave de facto permission to their Kiev mentees for any actions."

"As we are getting closer to [Ukrainian presidential] election scheduled for March, the bankrupt Maidan team needs a serious escalation, and ideally war," the diplomat said adding that without this, they will not be reelected. "Another dose of 'anti-Russian fever' is needed so that people, who have been becoming poorer over the last five years, believe once again that Russia is to blame for all their misfortunes, not their government and their Western 'puppeteers'," Polyansky said.

The diplomat advised "not to worry" about Russia's state borders. "Our country has never struck first, but can defend itself. The population of Crimea is under good protection, just like the populations of other Russian regions," he assured.

Addressing his Western colleagues, Polyansky said that their five-year "anti-Russian political project , which could simply be called 'Anti-Russia', is currently crumbling in front of everybody." "You all know very well the real, not declared rates of 'Maidan reforms' and other dangerous and destructive processes that push Ukraine closer to the edge," he added.

On November 25 three warships of the Ukrainian Navy violated the rules of passage through Russia's territorial waters while en route from the Black Sea to the Azov Sea. The Russian side had to use weapons to compel the ships to stop. Three Ukrainian servicemen were lightly wounded. They received medical assistance. The ships were detained and escorted to the port of Kerch. A criminal case was initiated on border violation charges.

The Russian side described the incident as a provocation. Ukrainian authorities declared martial law. The EU and NATO called for de-escalation of the situation.