Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs documented Putin's speech with missile threats for court proceedings
Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha (photo: Vitalii Nosach/RBC-Ukraine)
The statement by Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the use of a ballistic missile against Ukraine signals Russia's intent to continue its aggressive war. The only way to halt this aggression is to adopt the peace through strength approach, reports the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).
In a statement, the ministry noted that they have carefully documented the Russian President's remarks regarding the use of a medium-range ballistic missile against Ukraine. It also added that, from an international legal perspective, this constitutes yet another significant piece of evidence and a de facto admission of guilt for committing the crime of aggression against Ukraine and all the subsequent atrocities against Ukrainians.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs assured that it will ensure the use of this and other public confessions by Putin to hold him and his accomplices accountable, emphasizing that justice is inevitable.
Ukraine has the right to strike targets in Russia
The ministry also believes that this statement by the Russian President once again demonstrates Russia's interest in continuing the war.
"It is Putin who is constantly expanding its scale and cruelty, involving weapons from Iran and the DPRK, North Korean troops, and now using a strategic ballistic missile that could be a carrier of weapons of mass destruction. We call on the nuclear club countries to warn the Russian Federation against threatening the use of nuclear weapons," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.
The ministry called absurd Putin's accusations against Ukraine or its partners for allegedly engaging in unlawful actions that somehow provoke the criminal to commit crimes. It reminded us that Ukraine is defending itself from aggression under Article 51 of the UN Charter and has the full right to strike any legitimate military targets on Russian territory under international law. The MFA emphasized that to end these strikes, Russia need only stop its aggression and withdraw its forces from Ukraine's sovereign territory.
According to diplomats, today's statement confirms once again that Putin is the only one standing in the way of stopping the war and restoring a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace.
"His recent reckless steps, including strikes on Ukraine's nuclear energy facilities and the use of a new type of missile, are a challenge to all those leaders who have recently spoken out against the expansion of the war. We hope that they will not remain silent but will respond to Putin's disregard, unacceptable threats to radiation safety, and unacceptable nuclear blackmail," the foreign ministry's comment stated.
Appeasement will not work
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also drew attention to Putin's attempts to manipulate public opinion in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and South America, shifting the responsibility for the war he initiated onto other countries.
The ministry called Putin's efforts to portray himself as a champion of a multipolar world senseless. Diplomats described Russia's actions towards Ukraine as colonial, imperial policies. Specifically, they referred to the chronic denial of our country's right to exist, independence, and sovereignty, and attempts to seize Ukrainian natural resources.
The MFA pointed out that under the guise of transitioning to a multipolar world, Russia stubbornly spreads the narrative about the legitimacy of using force to redistribute spheres of influence. They emphasized that this completely contradicts the UN Charter, international law norms, and principles.
"Putin himself has proved to the world today that he can only be forced to peace, no amount of talking will work. Appeasement has never worked and will not work now. The only realistic approach is peace through strength, restoration of full respect for the UN Charter, international law, and Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' comment concluded.
Russia struck Ukraine with a ballistic missile
On the morning of November 21, the Russian army launched an attack on Ukrainian territory with a variety of missiles.
The city of Dnipro was hit, and two people were reported injured.
Later, the military announced that the city had been struck by an intercontinental ballistic missile, Rubezh.
However, in the afternoon, Vladimir Putin, during a speech, stated that Russia had used the medium-range ballistic system Oreshnik against Ukraine.
Military experts do not rule out the possibility that Russia likely attacked the Dnipropetrovsk region with a Rubezh missile, and the reports about Oreshnik are considered fabricated.
