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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, Bosnia and Herzegovina^*, as well as, Andorra, Monaco and San Marino align themselves with this statement.

President,

Exactly two years ago, when we discussed this agenda item it was on the eve of Russia’s full-scale invasion of its neighbour. At the time, their delegation was still denying Moscow’s plan to fully invade and occupy Ukraine.

The EU reiterates its resolute condemnation of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression, which constitutes a manifest violation of international law, including the UN Charter, and the resolutions of the General Assembly.

Two years later, according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, at least 10,000 civilians have been killed, and more than 18,500 injured, not counting the deaths among soldiers on both sides. This war has brought back haunting memories of Europe’s history, with acts of atrocities, including mass graves and torture of civilians.

The European Union is outraged by the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, for which the ultimate responsibility lies with President Putin and the Russian authorities. It is another sign of the accelerating and systematic repression in Russia. Russia must allow an independent and transparent international investigation into circumstances of his sudden death.

For two years now, Ukrainians have shown exceptional bravery and resilience in fighting to defend their country, their identity, their freedom, and the principles of the UN Charter. We will continue to support Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes. We need to keep supporting them, when for the second consecutive winter, Russia is carrying out massive missile and drone attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure. As it unsuccessfully attempted last winter, Russia aims to destroy the morale and resilience of the Ukrainian people.

We condemn continued military support for Russia’s war of aggression, including by Iran, Belarus and the DPRK, and we continue to urge all countries not to provide weapons and military equipment, including missiles and drones or other support for Russia’s war of aggression.

The EU is gravely concerned about the continued violation of human rights in the temporarily occupied territories. International monitoring mechanisms, including the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine and the UN Commission of Inquiry, have concluded that Russia has committed a wide range of violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in Ukraine. These violations include indiscriminate attacks as well as intentional attacks against civilians and civilian objects, widespread and systematic summary executions, torture and ill-treatment and unlawful confinement, as well as inhumane detention conditions, rape and other forms of sexual and gender based violence and forced transfer and deportation, including of children. Many of these amount to war crimes.

The SG report on the situation of children in armed conflict lists the Russian army and affiliated armed groups as perpetrators of grave violations against children. We condemn in the strongest terms Russia’s unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children and other civilians. Russia and Belarus must immediately ensure their safe return.

Russia and its leadership must be held fully accountable for waging a war of aggression against Ukraine and for other most serious crimes under international law, as well as for the massive damage caused by its war.

We reiterate our condemnation and firm rejection of the attempted illegal annexation by Russia of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. As in the case of Crimea and Sevastopol, we do not, and never will, recognize these illegal annexation attempts. Russia is now preparing ‘elections’ in the occupied territories of Ukraine. These regions are Ukraine. Russia has no legitimate basis for any such action on the territory of Ukraine. We unequivocally reject Russia’s illegal annexation attempts and urge all UN members to do the same, in line with the UN Charter and the GA resolutions adopted by an overwhelming majority of member states.

One year ago, this General Assembly called for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in line with the UN Charter. The EU supports all meaningful efforts to bring an end to Russia’s war. The path to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace is for the aggressor to immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all its troops and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine and respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

President,

Today’s discussion is not just about Ukraine, but about the fate of each and every country in this Hall. It is about the respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states.

Donetsk is Ukraine, Luhansk is Ukraine, Kherson is Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia is Ukraine and Crimea is Ukraine. The world will not accept Russia’s attempted land grab. And the aggressor will be held to account.

Thank you.

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