EU Statement – UN Security Council: Ukraine

– As delivered –

Mr. President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. I thank Rosemary DiCarlo for her briefing as well as the Ghanaian presidency for the opportunity to address the Council.

The EU would like to highlight the following three points: (1) the importance of upholding International Humanitarian Law; (2) our efforts to ensure accountability for crimes committed in Ukraine; and (3) our joint work to address the global consequences of Russia’s war of aggression.

First, on international humanitarian law. During the past weeks, Russia has stepped up its targeted strikes against Ukraine’s civilians and civilian infrastructure. Yesterday saw the largest and gravest missile attack since the start of the invasion. We express our condolences to the families of the victims in both Ukraine and Poland. By deliberately disrupting energy and water supply, Russia is trying to paralyse Ukraine and sow despair within the population, as winter approaches. These unacceptable actions targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure by Russia are unlawful and they constitute war crimes.

The IMF estimates that Ukraine may need 4 billion USD a month just to keep the lights on and the taps running. We cannot leave the Ukrainian people in such a situation. The EU is therefore undertaking urgent rehabilitation measures to prepare for winter and repair the energy infrastructure bombed by Russia. We are also working on a package to ensure Ukraine’s macroeconomic stability, maintain essential public services and rebuild critical infrastructure.

I also reiterate the need for full humanitarian access, including in areas not currently under the Ukrainian government’s control.

My second point concerns accountability. The images from the liberation of Kherson bring both joy and dread. Joy, as the population welcomed its liberators after eight months of brutal occupation. Dread, as stories and evidence of cruelty and war crimes surface, as they did in Bucha, Izyum, and elsewhere. It is of paramount importance to continue documenting all evidence of war crimes committed throughout Ukraine. We rely on the International Criminal Court and on the Ukrainian authorities to bring perpetrators to account. We acknowledge Ukraine’s efforts to secure accountability, including for the crime of aggression. We are accordingly examining the feasibility of various options in order to see how full accountability can be ensured in an optimal way.

Monday’s resolution of the General Assembly to recommend the creation of a register of damages and recognize the need for reparation of damage is another important step to ensure accountability. All victims of Russia’s aggression deserve justice and reparation. The EU will continue to support Ukraine in the framework of the ICJ proceedings. We also highlight the important work of the Commission of Inquiry established by the Human Rights Council in this regard.

Thirdly, on the global consequences: by weaponising food in its war against Ukraine, Russia is escalating the global food security crisis. The EU is at the forefront of global efforts to address food insecurity which is affecting millions of vulnerable people, especially in developing countries. We reiterate our strong support to all efforts to extend the UN-brokered Black Sea Grain Initiative and to scale up operations for the delivery of much needed grain and other foodstuffs. We commend the work of the UN Secretary General and the Joint Coordination Centre in Istanbul in this regard. According to UN data, two thirds of the wheat exported from Ukraine through the Black Sea Grain Initiative has gone to developing countries.

In addition to export over sea, through the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes, 15 million tonnes of agricultural goods have been exported from Ukraine to global markets over land. To address capacity constraints and further facilitate export from Ukraine, the EU has mobilized an additional 250 mio EUR.

In parallel, the EU is stepping up global food assistance: earlier this week, a new humanitarian aid package of 210 mio EUR for 15 countries was announced, bringing the EU’s overall food security support up to eight billion EUR between 2021-2024. We call on others to follow suit and step up their humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable too.

Mr. President,

President Zelenskyy stated earlier this week that his country is ready for peace. The EU supports all genuine and meaningful efforts to this end in full respect of international law, including Ukraine’s sovereignty territorial integrity. We note however, that Russia has not shown any indications it is engaging in serious and sincere diplomatic efforts. On the contrary, it has stepped up its missile attacks on civilian infrastructure.

The EU will continue to stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes. And we continue to urge Russia to immediately cease all hostilities and unconditionally withdraw all its forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine, within its internationally recognised borders.

The war would end tomorrow if Russia withdraws, as requested by the General Assembly.

I thank you.