At a UN meeting, Melnik vehemently refuted myths about the “unity of Ukrainians and Russians” and Kievan Rus
Andriy Melnyk, Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the UN, sharply criticized narratives about the alleged historical unity of Ukrainians and Russians.
The diplomat recalled that during the last UN Security Council meeting on February 24, Russia’s Permanent Representative Vasily Nebenzya “once again repeated the familiar nonsense about the alleged historical unity of Ukrainians and Russians.”
“He even mumbled something about Kievan Rus, which we, Ukrainians, allegedly sold for 30 pieces of silver,” Melnik said.
The Ukrainian diplomat emphasized that at the beginning of the 12th century, Kyiv was the capital of the largest and one of the most powerful states in medieval Europe. “And the territory of modern Moscow was then just a swamp where frogs croaked,” he added.
Melnik also recalled the aggressive actions of Moscow’s rulers in the past. In particular, under the leadership of Andrei Bogolyubsky, Prince of Vladimir-Suzdal, Kyiv was plundered in 1169, and many of its inhabitants were killed.
“Moscow betrayed Kyiv. And to this day, it continues this same brutal policy, bombing Kyiv, destroying our Golden Gate, raping and killing civilians,” the permanent representative emphasized.
Addressing the Russian delegation, Melnik noted that Ukrainians have no need for “distorted history lessons about the supposed unity of peoples.”
“Kyiv has stood firm for over a thousand years and will stand for another thousand. It will prosper, remain invincible, and Russia will not succeed in subjugating it,” he emphasized.
At the end of his speech, the ambassador addressed the audience in Russian: “The ball is over, the candles have gone out… Take your overcoat—go home.”
“So take your overcoats—and get out of Ukraine!” Melnik added.
In addition, Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the UN rejected accusations by Russian Permanent Representative Vasily Nebenzya regarding the harm Ukraine allegedly inflicts on the civilian population of the Russian Federation, emphasizing that these statements have no basis in fact.
As a reminder, on March 23, the UN Security Council convened an emergency meeting at Ukraine’s request to discuss the ongoing missile attacks by the Russian Federation.
