- December 10, 2025
- 4:29 pm
- World News
Resonant Speech by Ukrainian Diplomat in New York
At the UN Security Council meeting on December 9, 2025, Ukraine’s ambassador Andriy Melnyk made one of Kyiv’s harshest public statements in recent months. His direct response to the Russian delegation went viral on English and Ukrainian social media and was broadcast on several American TV channels.
The occasion was a speech by Russia’s representative Vasily Nebenzya, who once again repeated the rhetoric that Ukraine should “lay down its arms” and “enter negotiations on Moscow’s terms.” Melnyk did not avoid the topic with diplomatic phrases and stated:
“We are not at a Christmas market. We are not at the infamous Cherkizovsky market. Russia wants Ukraine to capitulate. Wants us to lay down our arms. And my answer to them is: you’ll get a hole from a bagel, not Ukraine.”
After this, the diplomat repeated the expression in English — in the most direct sense, so that “even those who pretend not to understand Russian would hear Ukraine’s position.”
Context of the Speech: Why the Tone Was So Harsh
The UN Security Council meeting was dedicated to the situation in Ukraine and Russia’s attempts to present its invasion as a “conflict that can be resolved based on Kyiv’s concessions.”
The Ukrainian delegation anticipated pressure in advance, but Nebenzya’s rhetoric, according to diplomatic sources, “crossed the limits of patience.”
Russia insisted that it “could achieve its goals” through diplomatic means, but at the same time did not abandon its demands on Kyiv. Melnyk reacted instantly and used phrases that could not be interpreted ambiguously.
According to representatives of the Ukrainian mission, such an open manner of speech is a deliberate strategy by Kyiv: to show the absence of space for “deals” at the expense of Ukrainian territory or sovereignty.
What Else Melnyk Said
The Ambassador of Ukraine emphasized:
Ukraine relies on the strength and skill of American diplomacy, capable of stopping the war, which remains the bloodiest in Europe since 1945.
Kyiv is grateful to the countries supporting Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression.
Any proposals for capitulation or concessions to Moscow are absolutely unacceptable, as “this war is being fought for the very existence of the Ukrainian state.”
Melnyk deliberately used simple and harsh phrases that are easily quotable and do not allow for manipulation. This is why the expression “a hole from a bagel” quickly became a meme and a symbol of Ukraine’s position at this moment in the diplomatic campaign.
International Resonance
American and British TV channels made short reports quoting Melnyk. Commentators described the speech as a “burst of clarity” — a sharp but precise signal to Moscow.
European diplomats, according to media reports, called Melnyk’s statement “emotional but reflecting reality.”
Russian representatives called the statement “undiplomatic,” but the Ukrainian side emphasized that diplomacy cannot replace facts: Ukraine will not cede territory to the occupiers.
Why This Is Important Right Now
Melnyk’s speech came against the backdrop of:
discussions of possible parameters of a peace plan by the US and the EU;
increased diplomatic activity by Washington;
Russia’s attempts to show that it is supposedly ready for negotiations, but only on its own terms.
Ukraine emphasizes: there will be no capitulation, and this must be understood by every participant in the negotiation process.
Conclusion
Andriy Melnyk’s speech became one of the most quoted remarks by Ukraine on the international stage in recent months. It clearly outlined the limits of possible dialogue with Moscow and reminded partners that any decisions about Ukraine’s future must be made with Ukraine’s participation, not over its head.
This tone is not emotionality, but a reflection of the reality of the war that Ukraine is fighting for its existence. And in this reality, as Melnyk noted, Russia’s demands to get “Ukraine without resistance” receive exactly what he said from the UN podium.
International commentary emphasizes: diplomacy does not have to be soft when it comes to preventing the destruction of a country. And this explains the resonance of his statement, which is being written about NOW in Israel, Europe, and the USA. In the context of Middle Eastern politics, his words sound especially clear — as both Israel and Ukraine face aggression from states that do not recognize their right to security (NAnews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency).
