Distinguished Council members,
Two days before Remembrance Day, let me start by paying tribute to Latvian, Ukrainian, and other allied soldiers, for their sacrifice in the past and for standing guard over our peace today.
I thank OCHA Assistant Secretary General Yahta and DPPA Director Gotoh for their factual briefings.
We supported the call for this meeting after those horrific Russian attacks on civilians as described in the briefings.
International peace and security rest on the UN Charter. On its fundamental principles. Borders cannot be changed by force. States must not use force against other states. And states have the right to self-defense from armed attack. The UN Charter forbids the use of force except in self-defense or when authorized under chapter 7 of the Charter.
In 2022, when Russia attacked Ukraine, it also attacked these basic principles of the UN Charter. Ukraine asked the Security Council to act to restore peace and security. To defend the Charter. But Russia, a permanent member of this August body, vetoed any action. Thus, Ukraine is heroically defending herself and the UN Charter.
The European security architecture is also based on the UN Charter. For example, NATO is a regional organization in this respect, founded in accordance with Article 51, the right to self-defense against an armed aggression.
So, when Russian representatives seek negotiations on the future of European security, we ask them simply to respect the UN Charter. Not to distract. Not to deflect. Just to stop attacking the basic principles that all states have agreed to.
The problem isn't that we don't have European security architecture. We do. The problem is that Russia has singularly violated every one of the principles. And violated or withdrawn from every treaty and agreement that implemented them.
So, where are now, on Day 1720th of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine?
Ukraine is heroically defending herself for the 5th year. The front is frozen and Ukraine has regained some territory. Russia is unable to achieve its goals militarily. So, it is trying through terror against civilians to make civilian life unbearable. And it is also trying via peace talks.
Ukraine wants peace, we all want peace. So, we wish every success for the next round of talks in Abu Dhabi. A ceasefire should be immediate to allow for peace talks to succeed. And we remind, that no lasting peace on the European continent can be achieved without Europe fully involved and represented.
The ceasefire and humanitarian evacuation from Oleshky, brokered by the United States, offered a glimmer of hope. For almost six days, the residents of Kherson region were spared from being deliberately hunted by Russian drone operators.
Regrettably, that glimmer of hope was short-lived. Russia has resumed its brutal attacks, killing and injuring civilians.
And that is the reality we are facing.
Distinguished members of the Council,
We have heard the facts about from our briefers. There is a human life behind every one of these atrocities.
In just one of them, Russia killed 14-month-old Anhelina in her stroller in a park. With a drone. The horrific images of this attack cannot be erased. Her mother Inna, a primary school teacher, died later in the hospital.
The facts are undeniable. Russia’s leaders’ statements and Russia’s actions prove the intent to destroy Ukraine. Its sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence, the Ukrainian nation and Ukrainians as a national group.
I will highlight four key elements.
One. Russia is indiscriminately killing Ukrainians at an ever-increasing rate.
According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission, civilian casualties this year are manifold higher. And more than twice as high as two years ago.
UNICEF reports that monthly child casualties this year have reached an all-time high.
Two. Russia is causing serious bodily or mental harm to Ukrainians.
Situation in the Russian occupied territories of Ukraine is dramatic.
Approximately 1.6 million children remain there. The OSCE has concluded that Russian state-led indoctrination operates across every level of the school system. So is militarization – children as young as 14 are being prepared to fight against their own nation.
Sexual violence is widespread. UN has documented that women and girls are subjected to rape, including gang rape, attempted rape, and sexual assault. The oldest recorded victim was 82 years old. The youngest survivor was just four.
Three. Russia is deliberately inflicting conditions to bring about the physical destruction of Ukrainians.
Ukraine is facing its fifth winter of war. Russia’s attacks on energy infrastructure, hospitals, civilian buildings are at the highest level since the war began.
Four. Russia is forcibly transferring Ukrainian children.
Russia has forcibly transferred 20 651 Ukrainian children to Russia or Russian-controlled territories.
This is a war crime. For which the ICC has determined that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Russia’s leader and its Commissioner for Children’s Rights bear responsibility.
These atrocities amount to acts that define genocide. All clearly set out in Article II of the Genocide Convention.
Dear colleagues,
Russia’s actions are destabilizing international peace and security. In ways directly felt across Europe and around the world.
Russia has closed the Black Sea grain corridor. There are millions of tons of grain in Ukraine that will soon rot. Grain that is not reaching millions of hungry people around the world because of Russia.
All members of the UN are urging Russia to cease its attacks on civilian shipping in the Black Sea. Stop the bombing! Open the corridor! Feed the world. Entire continents have a stake in this.
The growing technological cooperation between Russia, Iran and North Korea, including the transfer and deployment of unmanned systems is a serious threat to global stability.
Russian drones and planes have violated the airspace of NATO nations. Russia is expanding military infrastructure at the borders of its peaceful neighbors.
And Russian officials continue to spread the dangerous lie that NATO members are providing airspace for drone attacks against Russia. This is unacceptable and blatantly false. Russia must stop its lies. And also stop its escalatory, dangerous behavior of conducting sabotage operations in European countries and beyond.
The Security Council should not tolerate continued lies, propaganda, aggression, and violations of its principles by one of its permanent members. We urge the Council to act. And call for a full and unconditional ceasefire.
I thank you.