Blinken: Stopping Iran, North Korea, and China is key to achieving peace in Ukraine

To achieve peace in the Russo-Ukrainian war, it is essential to halt the attempts by Iran, North Korea, and China to support Russia’s aggression and to back Ukraine’s peace initiatives, stated U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a United Nations Security Council meeting on September 24.

“We must address Russia’s growing cooperation with North Korea and Iran,” he said.

Iran supplies drones and has built a drone manufacturing plant in Russia, and provides missiles. Meanwhile, North Korea uses trains to provide weapons and ammunition to Russia, including rocket launchers and millions of artillery shells.

“These actions by Iran, North Korea, and Russia have violated multiple Security Council resolutions – resolutions that Russia voted for, and as a permanent member, has a special responsibility to enforce,” Blinken said.

China, another permanent member of the UN Security Council, is a leading supplier of machinery, microelectronics, and components that Russia uses to rebuild, replenish stocks, bolster its military machine, and sustain its brutal aggression, he said.

“There is a profound difference. Russia is the aggressor; Ukraine, the victim. Russia fights for conquests. Ukraine fights for survival. If countries stopped supporting Russia, Putin’s invasion would soon come to an end. If countries stopped supporting Ukraine, Ukraine could soon come to an end,” Washington’s top diplomat said.

Ending this collaboration is the first step, and the second step that UN Security Council members can take is to support Ukraine’s initiatives for a just and sustainable peace. 

“Ukraine has said multiple times that diplomacy is the only way to end this war – and that it’s prepared to engage in negotiations. Putin, on the other hand, has no interest in such a peace,” said Blinken.

The quickest path to peace is to stop those who enable and fuel Putin’s aggression and to demand a just peace that adheres to the principles of the UN founding Charter, he said.