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French President Emanuel Macron told countries not to remain neutral in condemning Russia’s war in Ukraine, as he claimed Moscow’s invasion amounted to a new form of imperialism.
The war in Ukraine — and its impact on food prices, fuel costs, Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, and the larger context of tensions between Russia and the West — is looming over the annual gathering of presidents, prime ministers, monarchs and other dignitaries.
Neither Russia nor Ukraine has spoken in the nearly week-long series of speeches.
Mr Macron put war at the heart of his speech, a conflict he believes has the potential to usher in a world where “everyone’s security and sovereignty no longer depends on the balance of power, the power of coalitions, but the balance of power of armed groups”. and militia”.
“Who here can defend the notion that invading Ukraine is not sanctioned?” he asked.
“Who of you here would have thought that the day when something similar happened to you with a more powerful neighbor, the region, the world, would be silent?”
Shortly after Russia’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine, some 140 UN member states strongly condemned Russia’s aggression in Ukraine in two March resolutions, called for an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of all Russian troops, and urged the Millions of people provide protection. of civilians.
But more than 30 countries, including China, India and South Africa, abstained.
On April 7, some 58 countries abstained from voting on a motion calling for Russia to suspend membership of the Human Rights Council. It passed, 93-24.
Mr Macron called on UN member states to “take action to make Russia reject the road to war”, saying staying out was not an option.
“Those who remain silent today are actually in some way complicit in the cause of the new imperialism, the new order is trampling on the current order, and there can be no peace here,” he said.
“The war in Ukraine must not be a conflict that leaves no one indifferent.”
“Nor are we talking about choosing a camp between East and West, North or South,” the French president insisted.
“We’re talking about everyone’s responsibility – everyone committed to respecting the (UN) Charter and our common, precious interest: peace.”
Mr Macron’s remarks came shortly after the Russian-controlled eastern and southern regions of Ukraine announced plans to start voting this week to become an integral part of Russia.
In territory already controlled by Russia, Kremlin-backed votes will almost certainly go the way of Moscow. Western leaders who backed Kyiv militarily and otherwise consider the vote illegal.
“Russia declared war, it invaded the region, it bombed it, killed people, made others flee, and now it explains that in the same region, it will organize a referendum,” Mr Macron told reporters before taking office. speech. “If it wasn’t a tragedy, we could laugh.”
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