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[Global Times special correspondent in Russia Sui Xin, Chen Kang, Liu Yupeng] On the 16th local time, Russia and the United States and other Western countries had a fierce confrontation at the UN Security Council. As the rotating chair of the Security Council this month, Russia held a debate at the Security Council on the same day with the theme of "Multilateral Cooperation to Establish a More Just, Democratic and Sustainable World Order". Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov flew to New York on a special trip. He criticized the hegemonic policies of the United States and NATO at the debate. In response, the United States and more than 50 other countries issued statements to counter Russia's accusations. However, while Russia and the United States were engaged in a war of public opinion, Ukraine's predicament on the battlefield left the United States and other Western countries, which were fully supporting Ukraine, helpless. Ukrainian President Zelensky has recently complained about the lack of F-16 fighters and air defense systems. The Associated Press said on the 17th that what worries Ukraine even more is the changes in the future political situation in the United States. "How long can the political and military support of the United States and other Western countries last?"

On the 16th, the UN Security Council held a debate on the theme of "Multilateral Cooperation to Build a More Just, Democratic and Sustainable World Order". (Visual China)

Lavrov criticizes the United States in 15 minutes

"The Russian Foreign Minister criticized the United States for leading the world into a global war," Russia's Izvestia reported on the 17th. Russia will serve as the rotating presidency of the Security Council in July. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov arrived in New York on the 16th local time and plans to hold a series of speeches and bilateral talks. Lavrov hosted a debate at the Security Council on the same day on the theme of "Multilateral Cooperation to Build a More Just, Democratic and Sustainable World Order." The first 15 minutes of Lavrov's 20-minute speech were devoted to condemning the hegemonic policies of the United States. He said that the foundations of the international order and the world political system centered on the United Nations are undergoing the most severe test in modern history, and the reason is the "hegemonic policies" of the United States. "Let us be frank, not all countries represented in this hall recognize the core principle of the UN Charter: the sovereign equality of all states."

The United States and other Western countries were also prepared for this debate. The Associated Press said that this Security Council debate was a propaganda activity by the Russian side. The U.S. Permanent Mission to the United Nations issued a joint statement with more than 50 countries before the debate, calling the debate initiated by Moscow "an obvious display of hypocrisy." At the debate on the 16th, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Greenfield reiterated Washington's main views on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In response to Russia's accusation of the United States' hegemonic behavior, she argued: "We are not trying to suppress other countries, but to help them develop. We want to make sure all countries abide by the rules."

However, the permanent representatives of the United States and other Western countries to the United Nations did not give a clear answer to what rules the so-called "rules-based international order" often mentioned by Western officials is based on. Lavrov emphasized at the debate that the so-called "rules-based international order" by the Americans is actually a direct threat to multilateralism and international law. The United States has long publicly declared its "exceptionalism."

In response to the accusations of the United States and other Western countries, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zakharova said that Western diplomats are hypocritical when they talk about the need to respect international law and not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. The US, British and French representatives to the United Nations declared that "according to international law, one must not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries and must not become an aggressor", but they interfered in the internal affairs of Syria, Libya, Iraq and the former Yugoslavia, and in fact "they are talking about themselves".

Zelensky complains repeatedly

Since the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Russia and the United States and other Western countries have launched a "public opinion war" in various international occasions, but the real battle between the two sides is on the battlefield in Ukraine. According to the US "Newsweek", Ukrainian President Zelensky issued a "stern warning" about the insufficient F-16 fighter jets provided by allies to Ukraine. He said that the number of F-16 fighter jets Ukraine received from allies this year was "not enough" to fight against Russia. Zelensky claimed at a press conference held in Kiev on the 15th: "The decision to transfer F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine is strategically significant, but their number is not strategically significant."

According to reports, US Secretary of State Blinken said a few days ago that NATO allies have begun to transfer US-made F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, and announced that these fighter jets "will fly over Ukraine this summer to ensure that Ukraine can continue to effectively defend against Russia." Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands and Belgium have promised to provide Ukraine with more than 60 fighter jets this summer. But Bloomberg quoted unnamed sources as saying that Ukraine may get far fewer F-16 fighter jets this year than expected - Ukraine can only get a maximum of 6 this summer and may get 20 by the end of the year. Zelensky said: "I can't say how many such fighter jets (we) will have now, but their number is not enough. They will certainly enhance our strength, but are these fighter jets enough to be comparable to the Russian aviation fleet? I don't think it's enough. Are we expecting more? Of course!"

In addition, Zelensky also complained about the lack of air defense systems. He said that Ukraine needs at least 25 Patriot air defense systems to fully cover its airspace, but for the same reason, he did not disclose the number of air defense systems Ukraine lacks. He also said that Ukraine needs not only the Patriot system, but also various other air defense systems. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba also said recently that Ukraine's air defense system is far from enough, and "all air defense systems in the world should be sent to Ukraine as soon as possible."

Regarding the F-16 fighter jets that Ukraine requested, Harrison Cass, a commentator for the US National Interest, said that the F-16 fighter jets that the United States promised to provide to Kiev are actually outdated and "hardly able to survive" in the airspace controlled by Russia. Cass believes that the F-16 was designed and manufactured during the Cold War and cannot evade detection by modern radars. He stressed that such a conspicuous fighter jet simply cannot survive in a fierce confrontation, and "the F-16 will not become Zelensky's magic wand."

French military expert Fenouk said on a French news TV program on the 16th that the F-16 fighter jets that the West handed over to Ukraine may soon fall into the hands of Russia. The military expert predicted: "The F-16 fighter jets (taken by Russia) will be displayed on Red Square, which can only bring shame to the West."

Ukraine faces a "double challenge"

"Ukraine faces the dual challenges of fighting Russia and the ever-changing political situation in the United States." The Associated Press said on the 17th that after nearly 30 months of fighting with Russia, Ukraine's predicament on the battlefield is intensifying, and the support of the United States and other Western countries is increasingly affected by the changing political winds. The report quoted the analysis of Carnegie Foundation military analyst Kafman, saying: "The next two or three months will be the most difficult period for Ukraine." Another potential problem is even more worrying for Ukraine: "How long can the political and military support of the United States and other Western countries last?" According to reports, Senator Vance, who was chosen by Trump as his running mate, publicly declared on the 16th that the United States should focus on its own problems instead of the war on another continent. His views are consistent with Trump's position. The article said that such words are considered "a disaster" for Europe and Ukraine.