This surprise intervention by Oleg Anissimov followed a fiery statement by his Ukrainian counterpart, Svitlana Krakovska, on the situation in his country.
Allow me to apologize on behalf of all Russians for failing to prevent this conflict
said Mr. Anissimov in Russian during the plenary session closing the negotiations, told AFP three separate sources who listened to the official English translation by theUN of his words.
Those who see what is happening fail to find justification for this attack on Ukraine
he added, expressing his immense admiration
for the Ukrainian delegation, according to these same sources. AFP did not have access to his speech in Russian.
Questioned by AFP, Mr. Anissimov specified that his remarks should not be interpreted as an official statement from the Russian delegation
. They express my personal opinion and attitude
he said.
We will not surrender in Ukraine and we hope the world will not surrender in building a sustainable climate future
said Sunday in English according to several sources Ms. Krakovska, who continued to work from her country at war.
: fossil fuels and our dependence on them”,”text”:”Man-made climate change and the war in Ukraine have the same roots: fossil fuels and our dependence on them screw them”}}”>Man-made climate change and the war in Ukraine have the same roots: fossil fuels and our dependence on them
she added.
Delegates and observers attending this final meeting ahead of Monday’s release of a crucial report by scientists from theUN on the climate were struck by this exchange, reported half a dozen witnesses.
He knows he’s taking a risk for himself, that was a very heartfelt message
told AFP a participant about the Russian representative.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will draw in its new report on Monday an arguably cataclysmic picture of the impacts on humanity of climate change, after two weeks of online and behind-closed-doors negotiations eclipsed by the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.
Mrs Krakovska expressed her sadness that after years of meticulous work by scientists around the world, this IPCC report would have to to be in the media competing with a war
.
