EU Statement – UN Special Committee on the Charter: Special military operations

— CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY —

Mr. Chair,

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

As we are sitting in the Charter Committee to discuss issues related to the maintenance of international peace and security, we cannot ignore that, as we speak, fundamental principles of the Charter are being blatantly violated by one of the members of the United Nations.

Last night, Russia invaded Ukraine. This unprovoked act of aggression is a serious violation of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter, which prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State. This prohibition is a peremptory norm of international law that all States must abide by.

The use of armed force by a State against the sovereignty, territorial integrity or political independence of another State is unlawful and constitutes an act of aggression, as defined by GA Resolution 3314 of 1974, adopted by consensus. Aggression is a crime under Article 8bis of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court that requires accountability and triggers individual criminal liability.

Last Monday, President Putin also decided to recognise the non-government controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine as independent entities and to send Russian troops into these areas, as peacekeepers. These illegal acts further undermined Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence, in violation of the principles of the UN Charter.

The Secretary-General expressed his concern about the Russian perversion of the concept of peacekeeping. Troops entering the territory of another country without its consent are not impartial peacekeepers. They are, as he pointed out, not peacekeepers at all.

The EU has adopted a package of sanctions in response to Russia’s illegal actions and the military aggression against Ukraine. The EU stands ready to swiftly adopt more wide-ranging political and economic sanctions, in order to restore international peace and security.

We condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia's unprecedented military aggression against Ukraine. By its unprovoked and unjustified military actions, Russia is grossly violating international law and undermining European and global security and stability.

We call on other States not to remain silent and to condemn the blatant breaches of the Charter and international law by Russia. These Russian acts undermine the security of all UN Member States.

We also condemn the involvement of Belarus in this aggression against Ukraine and call on it to abide by its international obligations.

We demand that Russia immediately ceases military actions, unconditionally withdraws all forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine and fully respects Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence. Such use of force has no place in the 21st century.

The European Union and its Member States reiterate their unwavering support to Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.

I thank you.