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 and Bosnia and Herzegovina^*, and the EFTA country Liechtenstein, member of the European Economic Area, as well as, Andorra, Monaco and San Marino align themselves with this statement.

I thank the Albanian presidency for the opportunity to address the Security Council. I also thank ASG Jenca for her briefing, as well as the UN Country Team in Ukraine that was visiting New York this week for its very valuable efforts to alleviate the plight of the Ukrainian people.

President,

Today I want to emphasize two points: firstly that Russia’s illegitimate so-called ‘elections’ in territories of Ukraine under temporarily military occupation hold no value under international law. They should not, and will not be recognised; and secondly, the dire human rights situation in these territories.

[Russia’s intentions to hold illegal ‘elections’]

Russia has decided to go ahead with its so-called elections in the territories of Ukraine that it has temporarily militarily occupied. This is yet another manifest violation of international law and a futile attempt by Russia to legitimise its illegal military control and attempted annexation of parts of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol. Russia has no legitimate basis for any such action on the territory of Ukraine. By wilfully undermining the international order based on international law and violating the fundamental rights of Ukraine to its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as enshrined in the UN Charter, Russia is putting global peace and security at risk, as many of you have recognized today.

A little less than a year ago, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly voted to condemn Russia’s illegal annexation of Ukraine’s territories. With 143 votes in favour, and only five against, the GA called upon States, international organisations and UN agencies to not recognise any alteration by Russia of the status of these territories of Ukraine and demanded that Russia completely and unconditionally withdraws all of its military forces from Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. Russia doesn’t just block this Council from meaningful decisions, it is also in defiance of the GA.

Russia, its political leadership, and all those involved in organising these illegitimate so-called ‘elections’ will face consequences for these illegal actions.

[human rights in the occupied territories]

These illegal so-called ‘elections’ in Ukraine are taking place amidst Russia’s forced and illegal granting of passports, including to children, and widespread and systematic human rights violations in Ukraine’s occupied territories.

International monitoring mechanisms, including the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine and the Independent International 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, ill-treatment and unlawful confinement, rape and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence and forced transfer and deportation, including of children.

The past months, Russia has once again escalated its attacks on civilian objects, including on facilities for the export of Ukrainian grain. Earlier this week Russia bombed a crowded market in Donetsk region, killing at least 16 people, including a child, and injuring dozens of others. Intentional attacks against civilians are war crimes. All commanders, perpetrators and accomplices of these atrocities will be held to account. The EU remains firmly committed to ensure that Russia is held fully accountable for its aggression against Ukraine.

Furthermore, the SG report on the situation of children in armed conflict lists the Russian army and affiliated armed groups as a perpetrator of grave violations against children. These violations include killing and maiming Ukrainian children, mostly caused by air strikes, and attacking schools and hospitals.

I express the EU’s full support for the work of the United Nations to monitor and report on human rights violations and abuses and to support efforts toward accountability. In this regard, we welcome the recent visit by the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture to Ukraine. We urge Russia to uphold international human rights and humanitarian law. It must enable full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access through the front lines and stop willingly withholding aid from people in need in Ukraine’s occupied territories.

President,

The EU remains unwavering in its support for Ukraine, its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Russia must immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its troops and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. Ukraine is exercising its inherent right to defend itself and to regain full control of its territory.

Russia’s illegitimate so-called ‘elections’ in territories of Ukraine under temporarily military occupation hold no value under international law. They should not, and will not be recognised

Crimea, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk are Ukraine. We call on all States and international organisations to unequivocally reject these illegal ‘elections’.

President,

In ten days world leaders will descend on New York to take stock of the SDG’s. As the rest of the world renews its commitment to assist every country to achieve the goals, Russia, through its military assault, is not only setting back the ambitions of the Ukrainian people but also putting at peril these fundamental goals of people in every corner of the world.

I thank you.

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