The Security Council is into talking so as not to be silent. So much blah, blah, blah, without any result in practice, that even the minutes of silence to pay tribute to the victims of the war turn into a conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
The scene that took place this Friday defines the inability of the executive body of the UN. There was tension prior to the start of the meeting, but the apparent correctness in the supposed house of diplomacy was blown up when the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dimitro Kuleba, invited to be the first anniversary of the conflict, required those present to put on stand and observe a minute of silence for the victims "of Russian aggression".
Except for the Russian ambassador, Vasili Nebenzia, the other 14 members stood up, as well as the twenty European representatives who attended the session, including foreign ministers. Nebenzia, seated, began to bang on the table and make signs to ask for the floor, which the Maltese presidency granted him, interrupting the tribute. “I ask for a minute for all the fallen since 2014,” he said, referring to the conflict in the eastern provinces of Ukraine. There was uncertainty, with everyone seated except the Russian. Nebenzia asked António Guterres, UN Secretary General, to get up. He hesitated, but finally did it. He followed the rest and observed a minute's silence.
Not even the deceased appease the distances. This time, Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State, disqualified the Chinese peace plan presented hours before in Beijing. "Don't be fooled," he warned.
