Oleksander Burvchenkov, Chargé d'affaires at Ukrainian Embassy in Baghdad, speaks to Rudaw via ZOOM on March 3, 2022. Photo: Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A Ukrainian diplomat in Iraq told Rudaw on Thursday that his country expects Baghdad to join other countries in the world by opposing the Russian invasion of his country.
Russia launched a military operation against Ukraine on February 24, controlling several areas so far. This has caused the displacement of millions of Ukrainians to other parts of the country or abroad.
The Russian offensive on a UN recognized sovereign state prompted the General Assembly to hold an emergency session this week requested by the Security Council to overwhelmingly condemn the invasion, and calling on Putin to withdraw his forces from Ukraine.
The resolution was backed by 141 countries which deplored “in the strongest terms the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine” and called on Putin to cease the use of force and “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces”.
Iraq abstained, in an attempt to maintain neutrality and to balance its relations with both the US and Russia.
“This position describes that Iraq is not in favour of Russian invasion. But on the other hand, we expect Iraq to join the majority of nations in the world and stay together with us against Russia’s appetite, against Russia’s aggression,” Oleksander Burvchenkov, Chargé d'affaires at Ukrainian Embassy in Baghdad, told Rudaw via ZOOM on Thursday.
“I believe that the current situation in Iraq is also not easy,” he added.
The diplomat also talked about the humanitarian situation in his country and claimed that over 9,000 Russian soldiers have been killed so far.
Kyiv has been receiving humanitarian aid from its Western allies. Burvchenkov said that they are “satisfied” with the aid.
Russia launched a military operation against Ukraine on February 24, controlling several areas so far. This has caused the displacement of millions of Ukrainians to other parts of the country or abroad.
The Russian offensive on a UN recognized sovereign state prompted the General Assembly to hold an emergency session this week requested by the Security Council to overwhelmingly condemn the invasion, and calling on Putin to withdraw his forces from Ukraine.
The resolution was backed by 141 countries which deplored “in the strongest terms the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine” and called on Putin to cease the use of force and “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces”.
Iraq abstained, in an attempt to maintain neutrality and to balance its relations with both the US and Russia.
“This position describes that Iraq is not in favour of Russian invasion. But on the other hand, we expect Iraq to join the majority of nations in the world and stay together with us against Russia’s appetite, against Russia’s aggression,” Oleksander Burvchenkov, Chargé d'affaires at Ukrainian Embassy in Baghdad, told Rudaw via ZOOM on Thursday.
“I believe that the current situation in Iraq is also not easy,” he added.
The diplomat also talked about the humanitarian situation in his country and claimed that over 9,000 Russian soldiers have been killed so far.
Kyiv has been receiving humanitarian aid from its Western allies. Burvchenkov said that they are “satisfied” with the aid.
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