EU Statement – UN Security Council Briefing: Maintenance of Peace and Security of Ukraine
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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* and Georgia, as well as Andorra and Monaco, align themselves with this statement.
I thank the briefers for their valuable insights, and I thank the Greek Presidency for convening this emergency meeting, following Ukraine's request.
Once again, the stark reality of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has been made clear. The facts, as presented by the briefers, are irrefutable. Russia’s actions are intolerable: the intensification of missiles and drone strikes in Ukraine, causing an increasing number of civilian deaths and casualties (including children) and widespread destruction, the intentional targeting of energy infrastructure and warehouses and commercial shipping in the Black Sea, in violation of international humanitarian law.
The latest attacks on 7 and 8 October are another devastating reminder of the human cost of Russia’s war of aggression. These attacks involving drones, glide bombs, cruise missiles, as well as ballistic and hypersonic missiles, are targeting and killing dozens of civilians, including children, on a daily basis. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families and all those affected.
President,
Russia has waged aggression against Ukraine for more than a decade. Russia’s continued systemic project of illegal territorial expansion bears all the hallmarks of a neo-imperial power, inflicting immense suffering on the civilian population of Ukraine. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights estimates that in the first 8 months of this year, there were 15,280 civilians killed and injured. On average, more than 400 every week, and a 55% increase from the same period last year. Children bear the heaviest brunt as attacks on homes, schools, hospitals continue, while women and girls are increasingly at risk of conflict-related sexual violence, displacement and loss of access to essential services. This is unacceptable.
Russia has also targeted Ukraine’s cultural heritage and identity, through attacks on cultural and historical sites directly violating international humanitarian law and efforts to suppress and erase Ukrainian language and culture in the temporarily occupied territories.
As winter approaches, Russia intends to deprive millions of Ukrainians of electricity, heating and water. A method that can be only described as weaponization of winter and which has one goal – to inflict further suffering on the civilian population of Ukraine. Attacks affecting humanitarian workers, relief facilities and civilian infrastructure have also intensified and remain equally unacceptable.
Furthermore, Russia has intensified its attacks against Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, commercial shipping and grain infrastructure, which threatens global food security, with particularly severe consequences for the most vulnerable countries and populations around the globe. The Black Sea corridor is Ukraine’s main export route for agricultural products, handling 90% of agricultural exports. The Black Sea escalation adds to other crises. We see risks linked to the compound effects on three key choke points for global food security and freedom of navigation (the Strait of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandab and the Black Sea). Further affected by fertiliser shortages and the expected effects of El Niño, a global food security crisis is looming. Global food prices are already reflecting the effects. It is in every state interest to raise the alarm and to act.
Moreover, Russia is increasingly targeting merchant vessels and causing the death of several civilian onboard, while continuing to impair freedom of navigation, in a blatant violation of UNCLOS, of which Russia is a party.
In this context, allow me to recall the letter of 5 October, signed by 53 countries and the EU, calling on FAO, WFP and IFAD to support efforts to restore freedom of navigation in the Black Sea, including through a possible moratorium on attacks, and to develop an action plan to mitigate the impact on global food security. Food must never be a weapon – neither in the Black Sea nor elsewhere.
President,
The European Union will continue to support Ukraine and its inherent right to self-defence in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter. We will continue to support efforts to increase pressure on Russia to end its illegal aggression.
We urge all countries, including all members of this Council, to immediately cease any assistance to Russia, whether direct or indirect, notably through the provision of dual-use goods and components, and to use their influence on Russia to end its aggression and engage meaningfully in negotiations.
As reiterated today and on so many occasions, Ukraine and Ukrainian citizens want to live in peace. The European Union wants peace. Since March 2025, Ukraine has agreed to a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire. Just during 2026, Ukraine repeatedly proposed or accepted several ceasefires including in March, April, May, June and September. Russia did not engage in any of these proposals. And just this week, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry recalled that five ceasefire options developed jointly with other countries are currently on the table, but their implementation requires Russia to agree to them. In simple terms: Ukraine is more than ready for diplomacy. The ball is in Russia’s court.
The EU supports all diplomatic efforts to bring this war to an end and achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on international law, including the UN Charter. Such a peace must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, and its right to choose its own future. It must also provide Ukraine with credible security guarantees to ensure a lasting peace.
President,
Beyond all else, this war of aggression needs to stop, and it needs to stop now as the toll of civilian casualties rises. We must not permit internationally recognized borders to be changed by force. Russia must immediately cease its attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure. Those responsible for crimes, atrocities and violations of international law, international human rights law, as well as those complicit in their commission, must be held accountable for their actions.
We also reiterate our call on Russia to ensure the immediate, safe and unconditional return to Ukraine of all detained, forcibly transferred or deported Ukrainian civilians, including children, as well as the complete return of all prisoners of war and the return of all internees, as significant confidence-building measures.
The courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people continue to inspire us all. The European Union will continue to stand with Ukraine.
I thank you.
- North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.