Russia’s ambassador to the UN interrupted a minute’s silence for Ukraine as diplomats from the 2 nations confronted off on the anniversary of their warfare at a session of the security Council.

Concluding his remarks within the chamber, Ukrainian overseas minister Dmytro Kuleba proposed a tribute ‘in memory of the sufferers of the aggression’.

As everybody in the council chamber rose in silence, Russia’s United Countries envoy Vasily Nebenzia remained in his seat and asked for the floor.

He then broke the silence, saying: ‘we are getting to our ft to honour the reminiscence of all victims of what has happened in Ukraine starting in 2014 – all of those who perished.’

His use of 2014 and double emphasis at the phrase ‘all’ noted Russia’s claims that the battle began that yr after Ukraine’s Moscow-pleasant president was driven from place of job through mass protests.

The Kremlin responded through seizing the Crimean Peninsula and throwing its weight in the back of an insurgency in the most commonly Russian-speaking Donbas area, which Putin has also now annexed.

Nebenzia went on: ‘All lives are precious, and that is why we’re rising to honour the reminiscence of them all.’