New York Foreign Press Center Briefing with the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, in New York, January 24, 2022

Transcript

All right. Good morning everyone. Welcome to the New York Foreign Press Center. My name is Melissa. Hi b I’m your moderator for today’s briefing. We are honored to have the U. S. Representative to the United Nations ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfield here to speak on the United States is intensive diplomatic engagement with Ukraine. Russia, our partners and allies as it seeks to avert a crisis of peace and security, not just for Ukraine and europe, but for every U. N. Member States. Following the ambassador’s opening remarks, I will moderate the Q and a portion of this briefing. If you have a question, go to the participant list and raise your virtual hand and wait for me to call on you. One called on please enable both your audio and your video and identify yourself by your full name and outlet. You may also ask your question in the chat box and with that madam ambassador, we thank you for being here and we welcome your remarks. Good thank you very much Melissa. Good morning everyone and thank you for joining me here today. As you know, over the last two weeks, the United States has engaged in intensive diplomacy working in close and consistent coordination with Ukraine with NATO, the G seven, the European Union Osc and other key allies and partners. We’ve spoken directly with the Russians on a number of occasions including most recently Secretary Blinken was meeting with Foreign Minister Lavrov on Friday to ensure that they understand our concerns and positions and we understand theirs in every meeting and every venue available to us. We are continuing to pursue the path of diplomacy and dialogue. And we have made clear we need to see signs of de-escalation from Russia. While we can’t predict exactly what will happen next. We know Russia’s playbook. We know it includes measures beyond overt military action. It often starts with cyberattacks paramilitary activity. Disinformation campaigns intended to obscure the facts and create a pretext for their own aggression and other efforts to destabilize their targets. In this case, they have already been trafficking in disinformation and propaganda and attempting to paint Ukraine and Ukrainian government officials as the aggressions and Russia as the victim. So let’s be clear there is only one country with 100,000 troops preposition on the border participating in war games and spreading propaganda. And that’s Russia. We have consistently pushed back against Russia’s fictitious narratives and we will continue to do so. And is it is imperative that the world sees Russia’s actions rather than just listening to its words. It is also crucial that other UN member States understand how Russia’s aggression undermines their own peace and security today. Russia is threatening Ukraine and its sovereignty and territorial integrity. But this is also bigger than Ukraine. Russia’s actions, undermine the foundational principles enshrined enshrined in the U. N. Charter. These are principles to which we have collectively and freely agreed in order to maintain global peace and security specifically. U. N. Member States have all agreed that one nation cannot simply change the borders of another by force nor can one nation dictate to another. Its choices, its alliances, its partnerships under threat of violence. If Russia further invades Ukraine it would strike at the very heart of the U. N. Charter and it would to use Secretary Blinken is phrase last week opened up a pandora’s box of concerns for all of us. Russia’s actions toward Ukraine are not only a regional issue, they impact every UN member state and we must be prepared to stand together in unity and solidarity. Should Russia defy the shared values and principles that undergird our international system. Thank you. And with that I’m looking forward to your questions. Thank you madam Ambassador. Our first question will go to Dimitri with Inner tv. Ukraine. Dmitry? Please go ahead and enable your camera and your audio. Oh yes ma’am. You do hear me? Yes, we can hear you lovely madam Ambassador, thank you so very much for this chance to go to the first-hand information and firsthand answers. I go too short questions please. Firstly there are a lot of speculations around the statement you made. So could you explain what exactly told because media? Yeah, I lost your audio. So you have to start all over Thank you very sorry, can I start over? Yes please. You had two questions Yes ma’am I’m sorry it’s connection. Well, so firstly could you please explain the messages you told during your interview to Moldova and broadcaster Journal Tv because there are lots of speculations about what you exactly told about the possible militarist scenario which is still in the agenda. And second you have to tell me repeat the quote because I had a number of interviews last week. Yes ma’am. So um it was a lot of speculations about the interview. You go to Moldova and broadcaster which is journal to be and uh it was reportedly stated that they asked you uh do you think that military reaction is still possible and you told reportedly told that everything is in the agenda or everything is at the table? I’m translating back from Russian. So could you explain oh that statement? And secondly I’d like to ask you if possible about um your vision is the U. N. Peacekeeping operation or peace forcing operation is possible in the Ukraine during this condition during this situation. Do you see, do you see it’s a real way to stabilize the situation. Thank you. Thank you Dimitri. In response to your first question, we have used every diplomatic uh effort in our to book to find a diplomatic solution. And we are continuing to push for a diplomatic solution. Secretary Blinken uh meeting with Lavrov on on Friday was part of that effort and we will continue to engage with our allies in in europe with the Ukrainians and continue to have discussions with the Russians. That’s our ultimate goal is to find a diplomatic solution but what I said and what Secretary Blinken has said is that we are prepared. Should a diplomatic solution not work. We have uh are making our own plans and working with our allies to respond aggressively should the diplomatic solution not uh not succeed. But we have not given up on diplomacy. Let me be clear. And then uh in answer to your second question regarding a U. N. Peacekeeping force, I can’t preview that uh that is a decision that will be made in the context of how the Security Council decides to engage on on this issue. But as far as I know, no one has discussed the possibility of a U. N. Peacekeeping force in Ukraine. Thank you. Next question. Um James Bay with Al Jazeera, go ahead and enable your audio. Hello ambassador, thank you very much for doing this. I’m going to sound like a broken record because I’m going to ask you exactly the same question I asked you on Thursday you say you’ve done everything diplomatically. But the Security Council has not met during this crisis to discuss the situation in Ukraine. Would it not be sensible to have a Security council meeting in the month of January before Russia assumes the presidency in February. And if I’m a very quickly the other news of the day, Burkina, faso the coup or attempted coup there again. Should the Security Council meet on that? Thank you. Uh in in terms of the Security Council I have been engaging intensively with members of the Security Council over the course of the past two weeks I’ve met with members of the E 10 I’ve met uh in fact, even with uh Russian colleagues uh and we will continue to engage this is a threat to peace and security, that is the responsibility of the Security Council. And the Security Council is having discussions over what our responses should be. But we have not made any firm decisions on a meeting just yet. And I don’t have anything today James on Burkina Faso. I saw uh the information on on the attempted coup. Uh that is uh it’s really of concern to us, but I don’t have a specific response on that right now. Thank you. Next question to Miss Salaam moko with D. O. A. Yes, thank you so much. Irina’s uh Madam Madam ambassador, thank you so much for this opportunity to ask you a question directly. And I would like to ask you about the questions and know that today um in the first like in a couple hours you will have a meeting with the Ukrainian ambassador to you. And so what are your expectations regarding this meeting? So can you just give us a little bit like briefing us about what you will be discussing? And my second question is about the Council, the Security Council and February because as my colleagues already mentioned. So in February Russia will be in charge of Security Council and I don’t know like because, well because journalists expect some provocations from Russia. So what is your perspective on like on this topic? Because of course if the aggression will start on February, can you see any threats from this regard? If Russia will be in charge of the Security Council? Thank you so much. I can’t preview my discussions with other diplomats. Uh as I noted earlier, we’ve been engaging intensively with uh PRS here in new York. And the Ukrainian is pr is one of those meetings. I will be in listening mode but also uh look to see where where he he sees things moving forward. And then in terms of the Security Council should Russia make uh the um unfortunate move of further um invading uh Ukraine. It is a threat to peace and security. The fact that the Russians are building up along the border uh and threatening Ukraine is a threat to peace and security. And that is what the Security Council is there for to address those issues. So the fact of Russia being president of the Security Council in February, does not change the fact that the Security Council will have responsibilities to respond to the situation, ma’am. We had a question submitted in advance. This is from uh indigo L prissy from a T. V. Hungary. I’ll read it verbatim the UK has accused President Putin of plotting to install a pro-Moscow figure to lead Ukraine’s government Washington considers it valid information. Do us agencies cooperate with Kiev in order to hinder the plot? I’ve seen these these reports in the press and this is part of the Russian playbook. This is how they do things. So again, this is something that we’re watching very, very closely. But I I can’t comment on the UK report. Thank you. Next question over to Simon and table. Yes. Thank you. Ambassador. Thank you for taking my question this time on October with Today News Africa in Washington, D. C. Late last year, President Biden pull U. S. Troops from Afghanistan. The president said he wasn’t in the national interests of the US to remain in Afghanistan and then spend trillions of dollars. And I’m wondering if the U. S. Is prepared to go to war with Russia? If the U. S. Is prepared for a world war tree with a superpower and if the economic sanctions will have an impact. We’ve seen those economic sanctions in Africa in different places that have no impact on the people in power behalf impact may be on the economy and the people, the impoverished people in the countries. And and I know you said you don’t have anything to say on Burkina faso where the president was overthrown? Yes, a few hours ago. But as the third president in West Africa has been overthrown over the past eight months. Do you have any reaction? Thank you in terms of your question about whether we’re going to go for World War Three, we are spoke assed intensely on finding a diplomatic solution to this crisis. We have not given up on a diplomatic solution and we continue to engage with our allies and our partners uh with a unified voice to the Russians. That de-escalation is the best choice that they can make. Uh and we’re hopeful that we will succeed in the escalation. But should the Russians go for confrontation, we will respond aggressively uh in terms of sanctions on their on their economy. That will have an impact, not just uh as you you seem to imply that it’s on the people, but uh it will be on on on the leaders there and they will feel that impact and hopefully that will encourage them to come back to the diplomatic table and find a better way forward. We have heard their concerns about their security and we will we have shared with them our concerns about our security and the security of our European colleagues and we want to uh find a solution at the negotiating and diplomatic table and not a full-fledged confrontation as you as you imply, and on uh Burkina faso. Again, it is very concerning to us that this is uh as you noted, a third coup in West Africa, I will say that ecowas the regional organization has been extremely responsive uh and and and strong in and unified in their responses to uh these coups. Uh and we will look to work with them and others in the region to to address this. Thank you. Next question to David with politico. Thanks so much madam investors. Thanks for being with us. And uh hello from brussels. I wonder if we could return to the question of the Security Council involvement here and wondering if in your view should there be a renewed military conflict involving Russia? If Russia in your view should then abstain under article 27 3 of the U. N. Charter from voting in any Security Council discussion on that. And for that matter, Russia were to say that its military action was in response to a refusal by the U. S. To sufficiently answer security demands. If then similarly you would view the United States is willing to abstain in that kind of discussion as a party to this dispute and if the two of the P five are in this kind of dispute and don’t abstain your thoughts on the credibility for the U. N. Going forward and fulfilling its mission to keep peace. Thank you. Uh Just very broadly and generally, our view is that we will engage in in the Security Council on this issue and uh the veto power of a single country is not going to be at odds with our ability to expose what the Russians have done. They cannot use the veto power to stop the Security Council from having a broad discussion and uh countering their misinformation and propaganda campaign that they’ve used not just here in new York but across the globe. And that is that is our hope in terms of how we deal with this in the in the Security Council. And I’m sorry, I didn’t hear your second question. It’s along the same lines, but just as a quick follow up, didn’t they effectively do that in 2014 on Crimea? I mean, it’s not just about having a discussion about the Security Council being able to take action to adopt resolutions that might end a conflict and serve towards towards peace. I think in 2014 it was clear that the Russians were isolated uh and they were exposed uh and the world both in the Security Council and in the General Assembly was unified against the Russians and that will be part of our effort this time around as well. Uh They can’t use their veto power to block a significant discussion and exposure of of their actions and their aggressions in uh in the region. And that is uh I think we’ve we’ve heard very very strongly from other members of the Security Council as well as Member States in the U. N. That uh they have concerns about that. All right, thank you, ma’am. We received a question in the chat function, which I will read arraignments from Lamont. You’ve addressed a bit of it already, but I’ll recap the US has warned about the Russian military buildup very early in November, The allies and the Ukrainians were skeptical, is there a risk of a self-fulfilling prophecy when you warned over and over again about an imminent military danger? And you even withdraw your non-essential diplomats from Kiev? Well, it’s not uh, it’s not prophecy. We see 100 20 7000 troops being um building up along the border. We have seen that the Russians have put troops in Belarusian. Uh, so this is not a prophecy. This this is fact and that fact has led us to respond. Uh, in terms of our staff, we have an obligation to protect our staff and we’ve been very, very clear that we see the situation uh, deteriorating uh, and we want to make sure that we put our staff in a place where where they feel protected and we’re encouraging at the same time that American citizens use uh, this time when they have the opportunity to uh use Commercial Airlines. Uh, they make the decision to move before the situation becomes non permissive. Thank you. Next question to Alex with Turan news agency. Yes, thank you, Melissa and Ambassador, great to see you, albeit virtually my name is Alex Garafolo. I’m from trying to assert yourself as a person. Let me start with the question of sanctions. Since we’re all focused on deterrence these days. Should the sanctions be a putative matter after the fact or a preventative matter before the fact in your opinion. And my second question, um you know, Ukraine seems to have some support from the West, but it also does need, you know, partners in peace in the region, particularly among the Post Office. You know, countries, I’m old enough to remember how leaders from Georgia, Poland and Moldova along with the U. S. Showed up, you know, in Ukraine during the difficult times last decade, um is the U. S. Or the U. N. In a position to consolidate support in the region as well? Thank you so much. The sanctions that we have now announced will be punitive. But the fact of announcing those sanctions and letting the Russians know in advance that we will use such sanctions hopefully will be preventative. Uh And we’re hoping that the diplomacy also will encourage the Russians to stick with a diplomatic and de-escalation approach. NATO has been strong and it’s uh the NATO countries have been strong in their support for their regional partners. And we are regularly consulting with NATO with European colleagues uh and others within the region to ensure that they get the support that they require uh to bolster their own security concerns. But also be supportive of of Ukraine. Next question over to getting news network go ahead and enable your audio thank you very much ambassador paloma strongly with the Italian daily la repubblica, there have been some resistance from Germany to the idea of providing German made weapons to Ukraine through the Baltic states, there are also some problem of course with the European allies. In terms of gas for mutual from Russia, what do you expect from the European allies? What is your message to them to do a possible military action from Russia? And as you know, Secretary Blinken was in europe last week, he met with all of his European counterparts. Uh he met with his German counterpart. Uh their voices are unified with ours. Are we, our response to this situation is one in which we have coordinated closely with each other. And as President Biden has said regularly there are no discussions about europe without europe and no discussions about NATO without NATO, no discussions about Ukraine without Ukraine. And that’s why we have had such intense engagements with our with our German and other European colleagues on on these uh these issues. Uh so I think there again uh there’s no question uh that we will respond aggressively to any uh new Russian incursions into Ukraine. And that message is coming uh strongly across the entire um alliance. Thank you paolo, Thank you ma’am. Our last question, we have time for one more, we’ll go to Kimberly Dozier with Time magazine, Thank you very much um along that line about acting as a united front. Um If Russia engages in a cyber-attack, If it engages is something less than sending one Russian troops over the border or if it employs little green men again, what is the trigger point that unites the U. S. And NATO in Getting Germany to pull out of Nord Stream two or um enacting an escalating series of sanctions that um Secretary Blinken said on Sunday so far. He wants to hold off on. Thank you. Yeah, these are all actions that are part of the Russian playbook. We’ve seen it before. It’s not something that we’re surprised that we’ve already seen the cyber-attacks and we expect more leading up uh to uh to this uh this action that they are previewing for us and we’re prepared to respond to whatever actions they take, whether it’s sending little green in or sending uh cyber-attacks into Ukraine or into our countries as they have done before. Sorry. Just a quick follow the EU hasn’t withdrawn its dependence but the US and the UK have. Why the difference in response. If you could just go over that again, I know you’ve touched on it a bit, you know, our responsibility is to protect American citizens. Uh and this is nothing new for us. We always lead uh generally in in uh these actions uh I’m sure these other countries are weighing what security risks there are people face. Should there be a Russian invasion and they have to make the decision when it’s time to withdraw their people. We’ve decided it’s time for us to do that? Thank you. Well great now we are out of time. Thank you to all the journalists who joined. We especially thank you, madam, ambassador for making time today for this discussion. This briefing is on the record. I will share the transcript with those who participated. It will also be posted on our website at FTC dot state dot gov. And with that, I thank you for your time. Have a good day. Thank you Melissa. Thank you.