EU Statement – UN Security Council: Ukraine

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President,

Thank you to the Presidency for convening this meeting. Thank you to the briefers for their updates. 

In the two months since this Council last convened to address Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the aggressor state has further increased the intensity of its missile and drone strikes. It has systematically targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure in clear violation of international humanitarian law. On Tuesday night, Russian attacks reportedly killed at least 25 people, including children, in two residential areas in Ternopil. 

Earlier this week, we learned of an unprecedented act of sabotage involving blowing up a railway track in Poland. This incident directly concerns the security of an EU member state and its civilians. The threats to our security are real and growing. After investigations, the sabotage was attributed to individuals previously accused of cooperating with Russia. 

Russia continues to demonstrate what we have repeatedly warned about in this Chamber: Not only that it lacks any real political will to end its aggression and engage in meaningful peace negotiations. But, fundamentally, that the only real “root cause” of this war is its desire to re-colonize by force, 34 years after it regained its independence, a sovereign and independent member of these United Nations. Russia may want us to forget, but the UN was created to promote decolonization, not recolonization. 

While Russia cynically attacks Ukraine’s energy sector ahead of a harsh winter, the call for an immediate, full, and unconditional ceasefire grows even louder. Ukraine demonstrated its readiness months ago. The UN Secretary-General reiterated his call yesterday, after yet another brutal overnight barrage, when he called for a ceasefire “as a first step towards a just, comprehensive and sustainable peace, that fully upholds Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, in line with the UN Charter, international law and relevant UN resolutions.”  All members of the UNSC repeated this call today. All except one, Russia We welcome recent statements to this end by many countries from around the world as well. 

A ceasefire is a first, necessary step towards a just and lasting peace. So today, we once again echo this message to Russia: stop the killing, and join Ukraine at the negotiating table. 

There is the shocking truth about this war: According to credible reports, more than a million Russian soldiers have been killed or injured trying to conquer Ukraine.  On many days, more than 1,000 young Russian men and women perish on a battlefield far from their homes. Over three years into what it had planned to be – remember -- a “three-day war,” Russia continues to be countered by the brave Ukrainian soldiers, day after day.

Colleagues, the EU will sustain its diplomatic efforts towards peace, together with the United States and other partners. We will continue supporting Ukraine so it can remain in a position of strength with the means to continue exercising its inherent right of self-defence – before, during, and after any ceasefire. This includes political, financial, humanitarian, military, and diplomatic support. And we will further increase our coordinated pressure on Russia until it stops its war, just as all of us in this room should. 

When the EU calls to increase pressure on Russia, it is not to prolong the war, but to push for peace, to create incentives for Russia to stop its systematic attacks, which include violations of European airspace, and genuinely sit down for talks. Remember, Russia too committed itself to that by voting in favor of the Path to Peace resolution in February of this year. 

But then again, Russia may feel little compulsion to comply with our UN resolutions if third countries, and actors and entities therein, continue enabling Russia’s war of aggression. We condemn the continued military support provided by Iran, Belarus, and the DPRK, and urge all countries, including members of this Council, to immediately cease any direct or indirect assistance to Russia in its war of aggression.

And we call on Russia and Belarus to immediately ensure the safe return to Ukraine of all Ukrainian children unlawfully transferred and deported to Russia and Belarus. The international community must do everything in its power to take concrete measures that facilitate their safe return. We fully support the initiative by Ukraine to seize the UNGA of the immediate need to return Ukrainian children. 

In closing, I reaffirm our continued and unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. It may be an obvious point. But it is one worth repeating, in case Russia hopes that the blatant violation of the UN Charter by a permanent member of the Security Council can be “normalized,” so long as it continues its aggression unabated.

Thank you.