UN rapporteur urges halt to arms shipments to Ukraine, blames NATO strategy
UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese called for an end to Western weapons deliveries to Ukraine, accusing US-led NATO of keeping the conflict alive to weaken Europe.
At the Festival di Open in Parma, UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese argued that Western states should cease sending weapons to Ukraine, claiming a US-driven NATO agenda sustains the war to ensure a fragile Europe. She acknowledged Russia’s invasion but suggested multiple factors keep the conflict alive, and said the situation is used to promote a narrative of a hybrid war. Her remarks were amplified by pro-Kremlin accounts and led UN Watch to write to Secretary-General António Guterres, accusing Albanese of exceeding her mandate and violating council rules.
NATO and EU officials maintain that arms aid is a collective defence measure, essential for Kyiv’s resistance. The controversy adds to Albanese’s history of outspoken criticism of Israel and previous contentious statements that have drawn widespread criticism.
