UNITED NATIONS, August 25. /TASS/. European countries that today seek to portray themselves as advocates of peace spent years arming Ukraine, turning it into an instrument of military and political pressure on Russia and encouraging Kiev to reject the Minsk agreements, Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya said.

"There is a particular irony in the fact that representatives of the states that spent years arming Ukraine, systematically turning it into an instrument of military and political pressure on Russia and encouraging Kiev to reject the previously reached Minsk agreements are now trying to present themselves as the foremost advocates of peace," Nebenzya said.

According to him, these countries "watched with delight and eager anticipation," looking forward to Russia's "strategic defeat."

"Today, without batting an eye, they assure those present that they are 'not parties to the conflict.' They say they are merely helping Ukraine defend itself," the envoy added.