“We had periods of formal communication … and there were informal inclusions when we just talked like people who have known each other for a long time, as representatives of countries,” Anisimov told RBC. The climatologist said that he considered it necessary to take the floor after Krakowska’s speech. “And the first thing I said was that I am speaking not as a member of the Russian delegation, but on my own behalf. And then I said what I said. I said that I see no justification for the war that is now taking place. I said that, as a citizen of Russia, I am ashamed that I and my fellow citizens could not prevent this war. And then I said that, if possible, I would like to offer words of sympathy to Ukraine. I didn’t say anything else at the UN conference,” he said.
Anisimov noted that he expressed the point of view of many Russians: “Indeed, we were not asked if we were ready to participate in the war, we were not asked if, in our opinion, diplomatic measures of influence were exhausted. For all that, there are reasons to demand a different policy from the Ukrainian authorities. We all remember what crimes were committed on the territory of Ukraine.”
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“I conveyed sympathy to the citizens of Ukraine who lived their peaceful lives. What did they do wrong? That was the message of my speech,” the climatologist said.
Khamatova and Federmesser called on Putin to stop the operation in Ukraine
Anisimov noted that he spoke at a closed meeting, which did not involve publicity in the media: “What happened is the wrong thing, it’s wrong to publish without context.” “Whatever happens to my career, I think that if I had to go through it again, I think I would do the same and use the UN platform to say that the Russians don’t want war – that’s the point,” – he said.
Oleg Anisimov is a climatologist and head of the climate change research department at the State Hydrological Institute. In 2001, 2007 and 2014 he was the coordinating author of the assessment reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Russia’s military operation in Ukraine began on February 24. It was announced by President Vladimir Putin a few days after Russia recognized the independence of the DNR and LNR. He called its goal the “denazification and demilitarization” of Ukraine.
Many countries condemned Russia’s actions, imposed sanctions against its financial, defense, energy, aviation and other sectors, as well as restrictions against officials.