US ambassador to the UN called Russia a thief

The war of words between the United States and Russia has heated up over the autonomous Ukrainian region of Crimea’s reunion with Russia.

In a speech at the UN Security Council on Wednesday, Samantha Power, the US ambassador to the UN, called Russia a thief and warned Moscow that Washington and its allies will impose more sanctions on the Kremlin if it does not reverse the course of recent events in Ukraine.

She denounced Russia’s actions in Crimea as “aggression” and “provocations”, adding that “what happened in Crimea cannot be repeated in other parts of Ukraine,” referring to Sunday’s referendum in Crimea to become part of Russia.

Nearly 97 percent of residents of the Black Sea peninsula voted to break away from Ukraine and rejoin Russia in the referendum that has triggered the biggest crisis in relations between the US and Russia since the Cold War.

On Monday, Crimea declared independence and formally applied to become part of Russia. Next day, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a treaty making Crimea part of Russia, saying the vote demonstrated the overwhelming will of the Crimean people to be reunited with Russia after 60 years as part of the Ukrainian republic.

On Monday, the US and the European Union imposed sanctions on several individuals from Russia and Ukraine, arguing they were involved in Russia’s military build-up in the Black Sea peninsula.

The US ambassador to the UN called Crimea’s reunion with Russia a violation of international law and an act of thievery.

“A thief can steal property, but that does not confer the right of ownership on the thief,” Power said.

“What Russia has done is wrong as a matter of law, wrong as a matter of history, wrong as a matter of policy, and dangerous,” she added.

In response, UN Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said that Power “dropped to the level of the tabloid press.”

“It is simply unacceptable to listen to these insults addressed to our country,” he added.

“If the delegation of the US expects our cooperation in the Security Council on other issues, Mrs. Power must understand this quite clearly.”

“A historic injustice has been righted. The people of Crimea made their choice, and this choice must be respected,” Churkin stated.

GJH/ISH