Roger Waters, the lead singer of Pink Floyd, repeated his contentious remark that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was “provoked” in a speech to the United Nations.
Russia asked the singer to address the United Nations Security Council.
He demanded a ceasefire and condemned Russia’s “illegal” incursion, but also blamed “provocateurs” in the West for the conflict.
Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya of Ukraine referred to Waters’ remarks as “another stone in the wall” of Russian disinformation.
Russia invited Waters to address the 15-member Security Council after he lauded Vladimir Putin’s leadership in an interview with a German newspaper.
However, the 79-year-old musician, who was accompanied by his dog, astonished his sponsors by changing his stance on the conflict.
“The Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine was illegal. I denounce it in the strongest terms possible “he remarked through video link.
Also, the Russian invasion of Ukraine was not unprovoked, so I strongly condemn the provocateurs.
Instead of representing the perspective of Russia, the musician stated that he was speaking on behalf of “about four billion brothers and sisters” – the bulk of the world’s population.
He proceeded:
“What do the millions without a voice have to say? They express gratitude for your attention today. Numerous individuals do not profit from the war industry.”
“We do not raise our sons and daughters to serve as ammunition for your cannons.”
“The only prudent course of action today, in our view, is to demand an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine. In our eyes, not a single Ukrainian or Russian life should be lost, as they are all precious.”
The Russian ambassador to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, downplayed the musician’s reference to the invasion’s illegality.
The ambassador praised his “extremely exact interpretation of events” and reaffirmed his conviction that the West was at war with his country.
Others were less enthusiastic about the address.
The United States deputy UN ambassador, Richard Mills, stated: “I cannot deny that his credentials as a recording artist are remarkable. I am less convinced of his qualifications to brief us as an expert on arms control or European security challenges.”
If not ironic, then hypocritical
Mr. Kyslytsya of Ukraine referred to Pink Floyd lyrics in his statement, adding that the band was formerly banned by the Soviet Union for criticizing the 1979 invasion of Afghanistan.
Mr. Kyslytsya stated, “It is ironic, if not hypocritical, that Mr. Waters is now attempting to whitewash another invasion.”
How unfortunate for his erstwhile followers to watch him take the role of another brick in the wall – the wall of Russian propaganda and disinformation.
President Putin has frequently attributed the invasion to NATO’s expansion and Ukraine’s efforts to join.
However, Eastern European nations aspired to join the defensive alliance as a protection against Russia, whilst Sweden and Finland petitioned to join only after the invasion in February 2022.
Ferit Hoxha, the ambassador of Albania to the United Nations, mentioned that Waters’ old bandmates had published a song in support of Ukraine last year.
This release widened the gap between Waters and Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour, which was already vast.
In his interview with Berliner Zeitung, Waters said: “I find it quite depressing. It promotes the continuation of the conflict.
“Pink Floyd used to be a term I connected with… Saddens me to link its name with anything like this proxy conflict.”
Dark Side Of The Moon played again
In response to this statement and Waters’ recent statements about Israel, Gilmour’s wife, Polly Samson, tweeted this week that Waters is “a Putin apologist” and “anti-Semitic to the core.”
Gilmour affirmed his wife’s assertion and added, “Every word is demonstrably true.”
Waters described Samson’s remarks as “incendiary and grossly false” and stated that he refutes them “completely.”
In a further deterioration of relations, Waters has informed the Telegraph he has re-recorded Pink Floyd’s legendary 1973 album The Dark Side Of The Moon, to recapture it from his old band.
“I wrote The Dark Side of the Moon,” he claimed. “Let’s get away from this “we” nonsense. Obviously, we were a band; there were four of us, and we all participated, but this is my project and I wrote it, so blah.”
According to the album’s official credits, Waters penned all of the album’s lyrics and composed five of the ten tunes.
In his Telegraph interview, the singer tore at his bandmates, including late keyboardist Rick Wright, claiming they “can’t write” lyrics.
“Well, Nick [Mason, drummer] never pretended. However, Gilmour and Rick? They cannot compose music, as they have nothing to express.
“They lack artistic talent. Also, They do not have a single thought among themselves. They have never had, which drives them insane.”
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