Russia on Wednesday vetoed yet another resolution related to its ally Syria, this one calling for an investigation into last week's chemical weapons attack.
After the vote, British ambassador to the UN Matthew Rycroft said that "Russia cannot now possibly claim that it opposes the use of chemical weapons."
Well, that didn't sit well with Russian Deputy Ambassador to the UN Vladimir Safronkov, who — as the kids say — went awf on Rycroft.
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“You’re scared,” Safronkov said, according to a translation from the Moscow Times. “Your dream has slipped away, because we’re going to work with the United States. You’re afraid of this. You’re doing everything you can to sabotage this teamwork… Look at me! Don’t turn your eyes away! Why are you looking away?”
The confrontation was even more intense if you just listen to Safronkov, who has been helming the Russian mission to the UN since longtime ambassador Vitaly Churkin died in February, in his native Russian.
“Don’t you dare insult Russia again!” he concluded, a threat that will sounded like it should be followed up with a warning that his kneecaps would be at risk.
US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, serving as the president of the Council this month, stayed out of the whole kerfluffle after also condemning the Russia veto.
The confrontation played well in the Russian press but, as the Moscow Times pointed out, the transcript of the speech posted on the Russian Foreign Ministry's website was much more chill.
