Kenya has strongly opposed what it terms as the undermining of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine by Russia during the emergency meeting of the Security Council held yesterday.
Through its United Nations Permanent Representative Ambassador Martin Kimani, Kenya said it strongly condemned the trend in the last few decades of powerful states, including members of the Security Council, to breach International Law with little regard.
Kimani said although there may be serious security concerns in the regions, Russia cannot justify its recognition of the two regions as independent states when there are multiple diplomatic tracks available and underway that have the ability to offer peaceful solutions.
“We do not deny that there may be serious security concerns in these regions. But they cannot justify the recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states. Not when there were multiple diplomatic tracks available and underway that had the ability to offer peaceful solutions,” said Kimani.
He added that this has affected the territorial integrity and political independence of Ukraine.
The ambassador said Kenya expressed concern following the announcement by the Russian Federation to recognize Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine as independent states.
He also accused powerful states, among them members of the Security Council, of breaching international law, further urging the Secretary General to rally members to defend multilateralism.
This comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized breakaway rebel regions, which are home to Russia-backed rebels, as independent states, putting an end to the ongoing peace talks.
Putin said his administration had recognised the two regions as independent states accelerating a crisis the West fears could unleash a major war.
Putin has so far ordered the deployment of troops to the two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine.
His announcement has so far drawn international condemnation and immediate US sanctions aimed at punishing Russia.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has at the same time accused Russia of violating its sovereignty.