Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield
U.S. Representative to the United Nations
New York, New York
August 8, 2023

AS DELIVERED

QUESTION: Thanks for becoming a member of us, Ambassador. If we are able to flip first to the state of affairs in Ukraine. We’ve seen Russia placing civilians there whereas holding a blockade of meals exports within the Black Sea. Much-needed meals reduction for nations like Afghanistan, Yemen, and others. In reality, the state of affairs that the previous U.S. Ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder within the New York Times referred to as a struggle zone as related to NATO as western Ukraine. Is there any hope for reduction within the Black Sea as you see it to revive the grain deal?

AMBASSADOR LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD: You know, I proceed to be hopeful. The Secretary-General, the United Nations, Türkiye have been working diligently over the course of the previous few weeks to push the Russians and urge the Russians to get again into the grain deal. It is within the curiosity of the Global South group, it’s in our curiosity, and it’s in Russia’s curiosity to get again into this deal. So, we stay hopeful, but it surely actually is within the arms of the Russians to make the best choice to renew permitting for Ukrainian grain to circulate by the Black Sea.

QUESTION: Why do you suppose it’s that the UN Security Council has been unable to get a deal with on the continuing Russian aggression, a transparent breach of Ukraine’s sovereignty?

AMBASSADOR THOMAS-GREENFIELD: It is clearly a breach of Ukraine’s sovereignty. It undermines the very basis of the UN Charter, the inspiration of all of the values that we consider in. The Council has been constant in condemning Russia’s actions. Their actions have been condemned very strongly within the General Assembly. We had greater than 140 nations vote to sentence Russia, to sentence their actions in Ukraine, to sentence their annexations, and to name for peace.

And within the Security Council itself, you hear each single nation calling on Russia to do the best factor; condemning their actions in Ukraine, their assault on Ukraine’s sovereignty. So, it’s actually in Russia’s arms to finish this struggle at this time. They can finish the struggle at this time. They can return Ukrainian territory to Ukraine and permit for the free circulate of wheat to the remainder of the world.

QUESTION: But these condemnations as well-meaning and as loud and as frequent as they haven’t led to any precise motion on the a part of Russia. How considerably do you suppose their veto energy as a everlasting member of the Security Council has hindered the flexibility to result in any everlasting accomplishments?

AMBASSADOR THOMAS-GREENFIELD: You know, their veto energy hasn’t protected them from the condemnation. It has not protected them from the isolation that they’re feeling within the Security Council. And we are going to proceed to maintain the stress on Russia till they withdraw their troops from Ukraine. And I do know that they’re feeling that stress each single day and we can’t let up till they finish this unprovoked struggle of aggression on the Ukrainian folks. President Biden has mentioned again and again that we’ll stand with Ukraine so long as Ukraine wants us, and we are going to.

QUESTION: Now I did see peace talks in Jeddah over the weekend. Although there was no vital decision in any respect to return from that. Do you suppose the UN can dealer a deal between Russia and Ukraine?

AMBASSADOR THOMAS-GREENFIELD: I believe {that a} deal will be brokered. It has to have Ukraine’s energetic participation in that course of, and it could possibly’t give Russia their – what I prefer to confer with their sick begotten wealth – their annexation of Ukrainian territory that they took on this unprovoked struggle. So proper now, efforts are being made. We help efforts to discover a path to peace. But Russia must be a keen participant in that. And in taking part, they need to withdraw their troops from Ukraine.

QUESTION: And talking in regards to the Security Council, the U.S. clearly holds the presidency of that for the month of August. One of your priorities is meals insecurity, particularly ending famine endlessly. What are you asking from different UN nations by way of attaining that aim?

AMBASSADOR THOMAS-GREENFIELD: You know, we’re asking different nations to decide to doing every thing potential to finish famine. There is not any cause for 700 million folks to go to mattress hungry each single evening. There is not any want for famine like situations within the Horn of Africa. We have the sources, we have now the instruments to finish this disaster, and we have now to decide to doing it. And I used to be very happy that we had 91 nations this previous week signal on to a communique demanding that meals not be used as a weapon of a struggle. And the Security Council condemned Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

QUESTION: If we are able to flip to have a look at the state of affairs in Niger now, the Acting Deputy U.S. Secretary of State Victoria Nuland visited there on Monday. She described the state of affairs on the bottom as not comporting with the structure. Now formally calling it a coup in fact has critical authorized implications – not least that the majority U.S. assist must be stopped. But if the Biden Administration considers actions there to not be in step with the structure and the delegation was bodily stopped from seeing the president in particular person, is that not a coup?

AMBASSADOR THOMAS-GREENFIELD: It is actually an try at a coup. But we nonetheless consider that President Bazoum is the acknowledged elected chief of Niger. And we are going to proceed to push for his launch. We have supported the efforts of ECOWAS. They have additionally referred to as for his launch, and so they’ve referred to as for the navy to face down.

QUESTION: But if these current there in the meanwhile should not permitting your delegation to go to with the president, additionally they have refused a go to from an ECOWAS delegation, that may be a very critical state of affairs. How involved are you in regards to the security of President Bazoum?

AMBASSADOR THOMAS-GREENFIELD: It is a critical state of affairs. And we’re involved about his security. We have stayed engaged with him over the course of his detention. We have spoken with him on the telephone a number of occasions. I’ve been in contact with him, as has the Secretary of State and others within the area have reached out to him. And we are going to preserve pushing for his launch. ECOWAS can be having a gathering, I believe on Thursday, the place they’ll focus on the state of affairs I believe extra aggressively, discuss how they’ll discover a path ahead that may get President Bazoum launched.

QUESTION: And particularly, what’s the subsequent step that the U.S. can take?

AMBASSADOR THOMAS-GREENFIELD: Right now, what we have now determined to do is briefly maintain again on all of our help and assist that goes by the Government of Niger. We are nonetheless offering direct humanitarian help to the folks, however we need to be clear that this present effort is just not going to be supported by the U.S. authorities.

QUESTION: Well, thanks for becoming a member of us. We’ll go away it there for now. Ambassador Linda Thomas-greenfield, thanks.

AMBASSADOR THOMAS-GREENFIELD: Thank you very a lot, it was nice to be right here with you.

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By United States Mission to the United Nations | 8 August, 2023 | Topics: Highlights, Remarks and Highlights