S'pore chose principles, not sides in Ukraine conflict: PM Lee
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong speaking to Singaporean media at the end of his working visit to the United States.
NEW YORK — Singapore did not pick sides but chose to uphold principles in its decision to impose sanctions against Russia, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in New York on Friday (April 1).
“You have to take a stand; you have to have the courage to do this,” said Mr Lee. “Because if you do not do this and do not stand up, where will you stand if one day you need help? And you say, ‘Please come, fundamental principles are at stake’.
Mr Lee was speaking to the Singapore media at the end of his working visit to the United States, during which he spoke extensively on various occasions about the Ukraine conflict, which is now in its sixth week.
“One of the fundamental principles which we have always upheld has been the territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty of nations, and freedom from being attacked by other countries, which is enshrined in the United Nations Charter,” he said, in response to suggestions that Singapore had taken sides in the conflict by sanctioning Russia.
Singapore had imposed sanctions against Russia at the start of its invasion of Ukraine to inhibit Russia’s ability to do harm to Ukraine, including export controls, sanctions against Russian financial institutions and blocking transactions.
