'He really does not care’: UN Ambassador on Putin’s ‘unprovoked war’

>> AMBASSADOR, WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM. >> THANK YOU. I AM DELIGHTED TO BE HERE.

>> SO WE ARE HERE IN THE HEART OF THE MATTER. THIS IS A GRAIN MILLING PROCESSOR HERE. IT'S A VITAL PART OF THIS COUNTRY'S EXPORT.

IT'S VITAL FOR PEOPLES FOOD SUPPLY AROUND THE WORLD. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT IT WILL -- THE DEAL WILL BE RENEWED MID NOVEMBER, AND WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF PUTIN THAT HE CAME BACK INTO THE DEAL AFTER THREATENING TO EXIT IT? >> WELL, I'M HOPING THAT THE DEAL WILL BE EXTENDED.

I KNOW THAT EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS ARE BEING MADE BY THE SECRETARY GENERAL AND OTHERS TO NEGOTIATE AN EXTENSION OF THIS DEAL. THE FACT THAT PUTIN PULLED OUT THE DEAL TEMPORARILY SHOWS THAT HE HAS NO CONCERN ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT THIS IS HAVING AROUND THE WORLD. HE SENT SHOCKS AROUND THE WORLD WHEN HE DID THIS.

HE GOT TREMENDOUS PRESSURE FROM EVERYONE AND CAME BACK. HE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO COME BACK INTO THE DEAL. AGAIN, I THINK IT SHOWS THAT HE REALLY DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE HIS UNPROVOKED WAR IS IMPACTING.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE RARE AREAS OF COOPERATION IN THIS VICIOUS WAR. ALSO PRISONER EXCHANGES IS A RARE AREA OF COOPERATION. PEOPLE DON'T FOCUS ON THAT SO MUCH PERHAPS.

DOES THAT GIVE YOU ANY HOPE OR GROUNDS FOR INABILITY TO DISCUSS WITH THEM WHEN YOU ARE IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL ON THE BIGGER ISSUE? >> I THINK WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL BY THE RUSSIANS IS A TOTAL LACK OF SENSITIVITY. A TOTAL LACK OF COOPERATION.

THEY HAVE USED THE SECURITY COUNCIL TO PUSH FORWARD THEIR NEGATIVE AND THEIR NARRATIVE. THERE MISINFORMATION. THEIR ATTACKS ON THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE.

WE HAVE USED THE COUNCIL TO ISOLATE THEM AND CONDEMN THEM. WE'VE ALSO TAKEN IT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN ROUNDLY CONDEMNED. SO I DON'T SEE THE RUSSIANS AT THIS POINT LOOKING TO USE THE SECURITY COUNCIL AS A FORM WHERE THEY WILL COOPERATE WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD.

>> DOES IT BOTHER YOU THAT NOT JUST THE WIND, BUT NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS LIKE YOURS AND OTHERS, HAVE PUT A HUGE NUMBER OF SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA FOR ALL THAT IT'S DOING HERE? >> DOES IT BOTHER ME? >> NO, THE FACT THAT RUSSIA IS STILL DOING WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

DOES THAT BOTHER YOU? THAT IT'S CHANGED ITS MARKET. IT'S ACTUALLY SELLING ENERGY.

THAT ITS NARRATIVE IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD SEEMS TO BE WINNING. >> I DON'T THINK THEY ARE DOING WELL. I THINK THE SANCTIONS ARE HAVING AN IMPACT ON THEM.

I SEE A SENSE OF DESPERATION ON THEIR PART. THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE THIS DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN AROUND THE WORLD SHOWS THAT THIS IS -- THEY ARE DESPERATE, THAT THIS IS HAVING AN IMPACT ON THEM, AND I THINK THE REST OF THE WORLD IS SEEING THROUGH THEIR FALSE NARRATIVE. >> YOU ARE ALSO VISITING A FORENSIC LABORATORY TODAY REGARDING WAR CRIMES AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK AND WHERE YOU THINK THAT IS. PLUS, I SPOKE TO TWO SENIOR SENATORS WHO ARE ON A VISIT JUST LAST WEEK ACTUALLY SAID THAT THEY WANTED TO TAKE TO THE ICC, WHICH IS THE UN MANDATED WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL, THE IDEA OF A SEPARATE SPECIAL TRIBUNAL FOR UKRAINE. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THE U.

S. SUPPORTS? THAT THE UN SUPPORTS?

>> RIGHT NOW, I'M HERE TO SEE THE EFFORTS TO DOCUMENT EVIDENCE OF WAR CRIMES. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ENTITIES, THE ICC, THE I-C. J.

, OTHER ENTITIES WITH INVESTIGATIONS TAKING PLACE WITHIN THE UN, INCLUDING THE THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HERE. THE PROSECUTORS OFFICE HERE, WHO ARE ALL INVESTIGATING WAR CRIMES AND GATHERING THE DATA. SO WE ARE LOOKING AT ENSURING THAT WE SUPPORT THEIR EFFORTS TO GATHER THE DATA, SO THAT WHEN IT GOES BEFORE WHATEVER INVESTIGATION OR TRIBUNAL, THAT THEY ACTUALLY HAVE THE EVIDENCE IN HAND TO PROSECUTE.

>> YOU KNOW, I WAS AROUND FOR THE SPECIAL TRIBUNAL FOR BOSNIA, YUGOSLAVIA, AND RWANDA. DO YOU THINK A SPECIAL TRIBUNAL IS NEEDED? OR, AS THE ICC HAS SAID, WE HAVE WHAT IT TAKES, WE HAVE THE PROSECUTOR, THE PEOPLE, THE RESOURCES.

>> AT THIS MOMENT, I THINK THE RESOURCES ARE THERE BUT AS WE GET INTO MORE OF THE DOCUMENTATION, THOSE DETERMINATIONS CAN BE MADE LATER. BUT RIGHT NOW THERE ARE ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS, THE ICC CAN DO, IT THE ICJ CAN DO IT, THE PROCESS -- PROSECUTORS OFFICE OF UKRAINE, THEY ARE ALL AVAILABLE TO DO THE PROSECUTIONS NECESSARY. I HEARD TODAY THERE'S MORE THAN 60,000 CASES CAN THAT HAVE BEEN PUT FORWARD.

THERE MAY BE MANY MANY MORE. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS GOING TO LEAD. TO >> AMBASSADOR, WE ARE SITTING HERE RIGHT ON THE DAY OF THE MIDTERMS IN YOUR COUNTRY.

I WON'T ASK YOU TO WEIGH IN POLITICALLY, BUT AS YOU KNOW THERE'S SOME SUGGESTION THAT THERE MIGHT BE UKRAINE FATIGUE GIVEN THE ENERGY COST, GIVEN THE PAIN FOR EVERY COUNTRY'S CITIZENRY. EUROPE IS HAVING A VERY HARD TIME. DO YOU BELIEVE THIS COULD CHIP AWAY AT THE UNITED FRONT FOR CONTINUED SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA?

COULD CHIP AWAY AT THE SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE AROUND THE WORLD? >> CHRISTIANE, WE HAVE BEEN UNIFIED FROM DAY ONE AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY CRACKS IN THAT UNITY. EUROPE IS UNIFIED.

NATO IS UNIFIED. WE'VE HAD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN THE UNITED STATES FOR SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE. OUR SUPPORT IS UNWAVERING AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE UNIFIED.

UNTIL UKRAINE WINS THIS WAR AND RUSSIA TAKES THEIR TROOPS OUT OF UKRAINE. >> SO, WE ARE IN A GRAIN PROCESSING SILO. [NOISE] -- >> IT'S OKAY.

ON THAT LEVEL, WE UNDERSTAND NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER JAKE SULLIVAN WAS HERE A FEW DAYS AGO. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE UNITED STATES IS TRYING TO PERSUADE THE PRESIDENT, YOU ARE GOING TO VISIT, PRESIDENT SMOLENSKI, TO LEAST SOUND WILLING FOR SOME KIND OF NEGOTIATION WITH RUSSIA. DO YOU BELIEVE RIGHT NOW THAT THE UNITED STATES SHOULD BE PUSHING NEGOTIATIONS?

I KNOW THE U. S. SAYS WE ARE WITH UKRAINE, NOT WITHOUT UKRAINE.

BUT DO YOU BELIEVE THAT MOMENT HAS COME TO TRY AND GET ALL PARTIES AROUND A NEGOTIATION TABLE? >> LOOK, AT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WANTS JUSTICE FOR THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE. AND ANY NEGOTIATIONS THAT TAKE PLACE HAVE TO TAKE PLACE WITH UKRAINE IN THE DRIVER SEAT.

WHEN THEY ARE READY FOR THOSE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE BACKING AND SUPPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, FOLLOWING THE CHARTER THAT RUSSIA HAS VIOLATED, THAT IS WHERE WE ARE ON THESE NEGOTIATIONS. UKRAINE IS FIGHTING FOR ITS LIFE. OUR SUPPORT FOR THEM WILL CONTINUE TO BE STRONG AND CONTINUE TO BE UNWAVERING.

>> SO THE U. S. AND PERMANENT FIVE WHO ACTUALLY SUPPORT YOU ARE NOT PUSHING THEM TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE?

>> WE HAVE BEEN CLEAR, NO NEGOTIATIONS IN WHICH UKRAINE IS NOT IN THE DRIVER SEAT. NO NEGOTIATIONS ABOUT UKRAINE WITHOUT UKRAINE. >> IRAN.

THE IDEA OF THE SHOW HEAT KAMIKAZE DRONES, POTENTIAL BALLISTIC MISSILES, POTENTIALLY IRAN ASKING RUSSIA FOR HELP WITH ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAM. IRAN HAS ALSO BEEN SANCTIONED TO WITHIN AN INCH OF ITS LIFE. HOW DO YOU BRING IRAN INTO SOME KIND OF COMPLIANCE OR NOT?

>> LOOK, IRAN PROVIDING DRONES TO RUSSIA'S SECURITY COUNCIL VIOLATION. RUSSIA RECEIVING THOSE DRONES HAS BROKEN A SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS. AND SO WE ARE LOOKING AT BRINGING THIS BEFORE THE COUNCIL TO DISCUSS IN THE COUNCIL, AND WE HAVE ASKED THE SECRETARY GENERAL UNDER RESOLUTION 22.

31, TO INVESTIGATE WHAT IRAN IS CURRENTLY DOING WITH RUSSIA. THEY ARE PROVIDING DRONES THAT ARE ATTACKING CIVILIAN INFRASTRUCTURE AND IT'S UNACCEPTABLE. >> DO YOU BUY THEIR VERSION OF IT?

THE FOREIGN MINISTER SAID WE SOLD IT AS PART OF A DEFENSE DEAL BEFORE THE WAR? >> WE HAVE SEEN EVIDENCE OF THOSE DRONES BEING PROVIDED SINCE THE WAR STARTED. THEY KNOW THAT, THE RUSSIANS KNOW THAT, AND WE DO.

>> AND ON THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT THERE, EUROPE IS LOOKING TO SANCTION ALL OF THOSE PARLIAMENTARIANS WHO HAVE SUGGESTED HARSH PROSECUTION FOR WOMEN PROTESTERS. WHAT WILL THE SECURITY COUNCIL DO IF ANYTHING? >> WELL, YOU MAY KNOW THAT LAST WEEK WITH THE ALBANIAN'S WE HOSTED A DISCUSSION ABOUT IRAN, AND WE BROUGHT THE SECURITY COUNCIL, AND A NUMBER OF MEMBER STATES INTO THE ROOM TO REALLY DISCUSS WHAT IS HAPPENING THERE, TO DISCUSS WHERE SUPPORT FOR THE IRANIAN WOMEN.

TO SHOW OUR CONDEMNATION OF IRAN. I THINK THE IRANIANS HEARD IT LOUD AND CLEAR, BECAUSE WE STARTED HEARING FROM OUR COLLEAGUES THAT THEY WERE REACHING OUT TO DISCOURAGE THEM FROM PARTICIPATING IN THIS MEETING, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO RAISE THIS IN NEW YORK AND THE COUNCIL AND ELSEWHERE IN THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL UNTIL IRAN STOPPED THEIR BRUTAL ATTACK ON WOMEN IN IRAN. >> WHICH PRETTY MUCH PUTS A NUCLEAR DEAL OFF THE TABLE?

>> RIGHT NOW, WE ARE FOCUSED ON WHAT THEY ARE DOING IN TERMS OF ATTACKING WOMEN AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING IN TERMS OF PROVIDING WHEREWITHAL FOR RUSSIA TO ATTACK CIVILIAN INFRASTRUCTURE HERE IN UKRAINE. >> AMBASSADOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH INDEED. >> THANK YOU.