A damaged building in the port city of Mariupol, Ukraine, April 22, 2022 (Photo: Xinhua/ VNA) |
At the meeting, several countries accused Russia, which will assume the presidency of the UN Security Council in July, of conducting systematic attacks against civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.
Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia insisted that the damage at some civilian facilities in Ukraine was likely caused by Ukrainian air defense rockets. Analysis of photos and videos shows a possibility that damage at a number of civilian facilities in the Ukrainian capital Kiev on July 8 was caused by Ukrainian air defense rockets, he said.
Earlier, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied that any civilian infrastructure in Kyiv was targeted by Russia.
China's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Geng Shuang expressed concern about the loss of civilian lives and infrastructure and urged parties involved to exercise “rationality and restraint” and “show political will, meet each other halfway, and start peace talks.”