Voice of translator: “We are being asked to convene this Security Council meeting on unfounded accusations that we have refuted frequently. Furthermore, the open format of discussion proposed by the U.S. on this extremely sensitive topic is making this a classic example of megaphone diplomacy, and working in public, for the public rather. There’s a need to — we’ve all stated this frequently. We do not think that this will help to bring this council together. Rather, we fully understand that the desire of our American colleagues to whip up hysterics.” “You’ve heard from our Russian colleagues that we’re calling for this meeting to make you all feel uncomfortable. Imagine how uncomfortable you would be if you had 100,000 troops sitting on your border in the way that these troops are sitting on the border with Ukraine. Colleagues, the situation we’re facing in Europe is urgent and dangerous, and the stakes for Ukraine and for every U.N. member state could not be higher. Russia’s actions strike at the very heart of the U.N. Charter. This is as clear and consequential a threat to peace and security as anyone can imagine.”