Thanks for your time, Mr.
I appreciate the Secretary-General and Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo for their briefings on behalf of the United Kingdom. We cordially invite President Zelenskyy to the meeting today.
Infringing on the UN Charter, Russia invaded Ukraine without provocation six months ago when this Council was meeting late into the night to try to prevent disaster.
Ukraine has endured the full horrors of war in the months that have come after.
Thousands of people have been killed or injured, as we have learned today.
Currently, more than 17 million people need humanitarian aid. Attacks have been made on medical facilities, schools, and hospitals. Russian transgressions of international humanitarian law have become commonplace. Additionally, there have been claims of torture, cruel treatment, and arbitrary incarceration in Russia.
Children among the Ukrainian people who have been forcefully deported to Russia are. Over 6 million individuals are refugees outside of Ukraine, and 6 million more are internally displaced.
The casualties of this conflict are not limited to the people of Ukraine.
Beyond Ukraine’s borders, Putin’s actions have had a terrible effect on the most defenseless people in the globe, with millions of people worldwide being impacted by increasing food and gasoline costs.
We acknowledge the Secretary-efforts General’s in negotiating the Black Sea Grain Initiative with Turkey once again.
Today, there are rumors that Russia is preparing to use false referendums to unlawfully annexe additional land from Ukraine, which would be another violation of the UN Charter.
Any effort like that would not succeed.
After all, Russia has lied throughout its unlawful invasion, employing misinformation to fabricate excuses, weaken Ukrainian sovereignty, conceal the reality, and cover up atrocities.
Additionally, it would serve as additional evidence of Russia’s disregard for the concepts of territorial integrity and sovereignty. Principles that we have all agreed to respect as our organization’s Member States.
President, with more than 90% of Ukrainians voting in favor, Ukraine proclaimed its independence on this day in 1983.
This pride in Ukrainian nationality and sovereignty is still present today.
As the Ukrainian people struggled to protect their country against Russia’s assault on their national sovereignty and right to self-determination, we have all seen their bravery and creativity. The struggle of Ukraine is a struggle for the tenets of the UN Charter. It is incumbent upon each and every member of this chamber to acknowledge that. The world has been moved by this battle because of its bravery and resistance in the face of violence.
Therefore, on this day of Ukrainian Independence, we stand in solidarity with the country of Ukraine and its brave citizens who continue to thwart Russian efforts to forcibly redraw international boundaries.
We once again demand that Russia quickly remove its troops from Ukraine. And we demand that Russia be held fully accountable for its crimes.