Asked about the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s issue of an arrest warrant on President Putin in the context of the situation in Ukraine, Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said, “what they did doesn't make us closer to any resolution of the current crisis we are living in.”

Ambassador Nebenzya today (03 Apr) briefed the reporters on the Security Council’ programme of work for the month of April, as his country is holding the presidency of the Council this month.

Asked about the arrest of the WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich, Ambassador Nebenzya said, “He was arrested on charges of espionage. The investigation is going on. We hear statements coming from the west.”

He continued, “Today, Secretary Blinken talked to Minister Lavrov on that issue. But that will be decided not by Minister Lavrov, Secretary Blinken, but by investigation and by the evidence that the investigation could provide for the court.”

Asked about a nuclear war, Ambassador Nebenzya said, “At least us, we're not asking for the nuclear war. We're not threatening nuclear war, all this narrative that Russia is threatening the world with the nukes is a part of a propaganda as well.”

He continued, “We've been saying long time consistently that it is not in our military doctrine which provides for very few specific cases when the nuclear weapons can be engaged. And that is definitely not the situation which is in our nuclear doctrine.”

Asked about the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Ambassador Nebenzya said, “We've been saying consistently that the deal is not working, the second part of the deal which concerns the Russian export of food and fertilizers is not working.”

He continued, “It is not working 100 percent, despite all the efforts the Secretary-General and Rebeca Grynspan are undertaking. We recognize these efforts, but we are where we are, and what will happen in 60 days where we said that we expect the breakthrough. I cannot predict as I said it's not my prerogative to give you even a heads up on that.”

Asked about the up coming visits from European leaders to China, Ambassador Nebenzya said, “I have strong doubts that the European leaders with their position on the Ukrainian crisis could come to anything sensible and meaningful when they visit China. We more or less know their rhetoric and narrative, what they will say and what they will demanding from President Xi. And I think that China’s balanced position on the issue will not allow them to go from Beijing with what they can see that in their view intension.”