Joint Statement at the High Level Segment

Conference on Disarmament

Geneva, 24 February 2025

Madame President,

Now, I have the honour to speak on behalf of:

Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Republic of Moldova, Principality of Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Republic of North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

As we mark three years of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and eleven years since the onset of its armed aggression, we reiterate our firm commitment to the rules-based international order founded on the UN Charter and fundamental principles of international law.

 Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine represents a blatant violation of international law and a direct threat to global peace and security, undermining efforts to uphold non-proliferation and disarmament.

Russia’s brutal war continues to inflict immense suffering on the Ukrainian people, causing devastating humanitarian consequences and destabilizing the global security framework.

Russia’s actions endanger global food security, energy stability, nuclear safety, and the environment, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable populations worldwide.

We condemn in the strongest possible way Russia’s aggressive actions, irresponsible and threatening nuclear rhetoric in its illegal, unjustified and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine, which are provocative and reckless, dangerous and escalatory.

We strongly condemn Russia's continued indiscriminate attacks, killing civilians and destroying civilian objects, including critical energy infrastructure.

Russia continues to endanger Ukraine’s nuclear energy facilities, which significantly increases the risk of a nuclear incident with catastrophic consequences far beyond Ukraine's borders. Recent International Atomic Energy Agency’s reports confirm that military activity near the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) further compromises its safety. The latest drone incident causing a fire on the New Safe Confinement at the Chornobyl NPP underlines the persistent risks to nuclear safety. 

 We fully support the IAEA initiatives to uphold nuclear safety and security in Ukraine and denounce Russia’s attempts to undermine the work of the Agency’s experts, with full respect for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

We urge Russia to immediately cease all hostile actions against Ukrainian nuclear facilities and to withdraw its military and associated personnel from the ZNPP without delay, as required by the resolutions of the IAEA Board of Governors and General Conference as well as the UN General Assembly.

Madame President,

We strongly condemn the active military and other support provided to Russia by Belarus, Iran, and the DPRK, which enables Russia to sustain its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.

We are deeply concerned about the continued military cooperation between DPRK and Russia, including DPRK’s provision of ballistic missiles, artillery shells, other military materiel and the deployment of significant number of DPRK troops to Russia in combat operations against Ukraine and related military activities. Such actions mark a dangerous expansion of the war with serious consequences for European and Indo-Pacific security and represent flagrant violations of multiple UN Security Council resolutions.

We strongly condemn the transfer of advanced weaponry by Iran to Russia, which are used in Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and in relentless attacks against the civilian population. These transfers directly contribute to Russia’s escalating violence in Ukraine, further threatening European security.

Moreover, we condemn Russia’s announced intention to station nuclear weapons in Belarus, which further demonstrates how Russia’s repeated actions undermine strategic stability.

We call for immediate cessation of any form of material support to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, including the provision of direct military aid and the supply of dual-use goods and sensitive items that sustain Russia’s war effort.

Madame President,

We reaffirm our commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders as well as for Ukraine’s inherent right to self-defense against the illegal Russian aggression.

We emphasize Ukraine`s need for robust, effective, and enduring security mechanisms that would deter any future Russian aggression.

We remain steadfast in our commitment to ensure Russia’s accountability for the serious crimes under international law committed on Ukrainian territory and for the extensive damage caused by its actions.

We call on all members of the international community to intensify diplomatic efforts, working alongside Ukraine, towards advancing a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace, consistent with UN Charter and international law. Through our collective strength we can achieve such peace.

The Russian Federation must heed the demands of the international community and cease its aggression against Ukraine without delay, and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the entire territory of Ukraine.

I thank you.