US inflammatory rhetoric contributes to Ukrainian conflict - Russian ambassador to UN

UNITED NATIONS, January 22. /TASS/. The United States’ actions might contribute to the escalation of hostilities in Ukraine, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin said on Wednesday. He told a UN Security Council meeting that the deterioration of the situation [in Ukraine] has “miraculously” coincided with a visit to Kiev by U.S. Army Europe Commander Ben Hodges. The diplomat made the statement in response to U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN Samantha Power’s accusations against Moscow. She claimed that Russia was trying to surround itself with “frozen conflicts,” again accusing Russia of interfering in the situation in Ukraine. Vitaly Churkin said in reply that “throughout the Ukrainian crisis, the United States has played a destructive, and if truth be told - an inflammatory role.” “After each visit of senior U.S. officials to Ukraine, the actions of Kiev authorities become more confrontational. And the current military escalation has also miraculously coincided with a visit to Kiev by the commander of U.S. Army Europe,” said the diplomat. “Wherever Washington turns its attention - be it Iraq, Libya, Syria, Ukraine - everywhere it brings destabilisation, crisis and bloodshed.” Churkin said the American trace could be found also in other conflicts in the region. “Let me remind you that the Trans-Dniester region could be settled as early as 2005, if not for Washington’s interference at the last moment - the U.S. side dissuaded Chisinau from signing the already finished agreement. Abkhazia and South Ossetia would not have declared their independence, if not for Washington-backed unbalanced Saakashvili who broke loose in 2008,” said Russia’s permanent representative. Read more