Ukraine's UN Ambassador Andriy Melnyk urged the UN Security Council on Monday to take stronger action against Russia, saying words of condemnation were not enough to stop its war against Ukraine.
Addressing the Council, Melnyk said Ukrainians were marking Independence Day with "mixed emotions" as Russia's war entered what he described as its "most barbaric phase."
"Day and night, Ukraine, a great European nation, is being brutally destroyed before the eyes of the entire international community by Russian ballistic missiles and killer drones," he said.
He criticized the international community for responding primarily by convening meetings and condemning alleged Russian war crimes and crimes against humanity while failing to take effective measures to hold Moscow accountable.
He also accused some members of avoiding directly naming Russia in statements about the war.
"What a disgrace! To this day, the UN Security Council has failed to take effective action, to hold Russia to account, and to prevent a daily genocide of the Ukrainian people carried out in plain sight of the world," he said.
Melnyk said Ukraine valued the fact that Russia's war against its statehood remained on the Council's agenda but stressed that stronger measures were needed.
"Only decisive action, not words, not even the strongest words, can stop this deadly Russian war machinery," he said. "It is time for the Security Council to impose the most painful and far-reaching sanctions against Russia."
Melnyk also criticized Russia's UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya over Moscow's complaints about Ukrainian strikes on targets inside Russian territory.
"Mr. Nebenzya is whining again about alleged civilian victims in Russia," he said, accusing the Russian envoy of shedding "crocodile tears."
