During his debut speech in the UN Security Council, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) addressed Russian head of state Vladimir Putin with sharp words. Scholz explained: “The reason why the suffering continues in Ukraine and around the world is shockingly simple: Russia’s president wants to implement his imperialist plan to conquer its sovereign neighbor, Ukraine.” He said this during the meeting of the most important UN body in New York.

Scholz appealed to Putin to give in to the UN General Assembly’s demands and withdraw his soldiers to end the conflict. “To date it has not been answered. Nothing rings louder today than Russia’s silence in response to this global appeal for peace,” said Scholz.

Scholz takes on the final word: After Zelenskyj and Lavrov’s departure

The UN General Assembly had already passed a resolution on troop withdrawal in February, a year after the start of the Russian intervention in Ukraine. Of the 193 member states, 141 voted for it and only six, including Russia, voted against it. 32 nations, including China and India, abstained. However, no further resolution has been passed so far. At the end of the almost three-hour Security Council meeting, Scholz was the last to speak. At this point, both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had already left the room.

Scholz further criticized Russia for deliberately withholding from the global market millions of tons of grain and fertilizer needed by nations around the world. “Russia is deliberately targeting grain silos and port infrastructure. And Russia has unilaterally canceled the Black Sea Grains Initiative, deepening poverty and food insecurity around the world.”

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