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President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia^*, Montenegro^*, Albania^*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina^*, the potential candidate country Georgia, and the EFTA country Liechtenstein, member of the European Economic Area, as well as, Andorra, Monaco and San Marino align themselves with this statement.

I thank the UK presidency for the opportunity to address the Security Council. I also thank USG DiCarlo for her briefing, and for the United Nations’ continued support to the people of Ukraine in these dire times. I welcome the presence of Minister Kuleba at this meeting.

President,

The EU reiterates its resolute condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression, which constitutes a manifest violation of the UN Charter and international law. We also condemn the continued military support for Russia’s war of aggression provided by Iran and Belarus. The EU is unwavering in our support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and its inherent right of self-defence.

Allow me to emphasise three points in my intervention, 1) the need for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine; 2) the importance of addressing the global consequences of Russia’s aggression; 3) the need to hold Russia and its leadership to account.

[Peace]

The people of Ukraine, the international community, and almost all members of the Security Council, have repeatedly expressed their desire for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in line with the UN Charter, the resolutions of the General Assembly, and international law. We welcome all international efforts to this effect, including the recent visit by African leaders. The EU will support Ukraine as long as it takes and will continue its work to ensure the widest possible international support for the key principles and objectives of Ukraine’s Peace Formula. I underline that any initiative for sustainable peace in Ukraine must be based on full respect for its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.

[Global consequences]

We condemn Russia’s decision to terminate the Black Sea Grain Initiative. We thank the UN and all involved for their efforts in attempting to reach an agreement. The initiative’s suspension creates widespread uncertainty on global markets and exacerbates the dire situation of food importing countries, hurting the poorest and most vulnerable the most.

Russia continues to weaponise food and undermine global food security. At a time when 258 million people face hunger, this is deeply irresponsible.

While continuing to commit its flagrant violation of the UN Charter, Russia now piece by piece undermines the multilateral system - blocking Security Council action for humanitarian assistance to Syria and now preventing the extension under UN auspices of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

Since its signing in Istanbul last year, the Initiative has eased pressure on global food prices, by facilitating the export of more than 32 million metric tons of food stuff. Contrary to what the Russia representative said earlier, according to the UN, over half of exports went to developing countries and the proportion of wheat exported to Least Developed Countries including sub-Saharan Africa remained largely unchanged from pre-war levels. Furthermore, Ukraine is one of the main suppliers of the World Food Programme which, without the Initiative, will now have to source its humanitarian assistance elsewhere at a higher cost.

The EU spared no effort to support the UN in reaching a deal and finding a compromise allowing for renewal. So we urge Russia to reconsider its decision and resume the implementation of the Initiative.

Let us not forget that the Black Sea Grain Initiative would not have been necessary if Russia had not started the full-scale war against Ukraine and blocked Ukrainian Black Sea ports.

In addition to the Grain Initiative, the EU’s Solidarity Lanes remain instrumental in bolstering global food security. They have allowed the export of more than 38 million tons of Ukraine’s food and agricultural goods.

The EU and its Member States remain committed to address the needs of countries vulnerable to food insecurity. That is why we are providing 18 billion EUR to address food security needs, focusing on the most vulnerable regions. We reiterate our call on all countries to step up their own assistance in line with OCHA’s humanitarian response plan and appeal for aid this year.

[Accountability]

The EU remains firmly committed to ensure that Russia is held fully accountable for its war of aggression against Ukraine. The International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine has started its support operations in The Hague. The work to establish a tribunal for the prosecution of the crime of aggression against Ukraine will continue. We welcome the adoption of the Ljubljana-The Hague Convention on International Cooperation in the Investigation and Prosecution of the Crime of Genocide, Crimes against Humanity, War Crimes and other International Crimes, and call on all countries to become parties to the Convention as soon as possible. The EU also welcomes the establishment of the Council of Europe’s Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation Against Ukraine and calls for work to continue, in line with the resolution of the UN General Assembly.

President,

We need a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in line with the UN Charter and the resolutions of the General Assembly.

The EU will continue to provide strong financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes.

I thank you.

* North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.