UN Security Council Briefing on Maintenance of Peace and Security of Ukraine
Statement delivered by H.E. Rein Tammsaar, Permanent Represnetative of Estonia
8 April 2025, New York
President,
I have the honor to speak on behalf of the three Baltic states – Latvia, Lithuania and my own country, Estonia. We align ourselves with the Statement by the European Union. We thank the USG Tom Fletcher for his valuable input and commend OCHA in Ukraine for their admirable efforts in mobilising and coordinating aid to people whose lives have been upended by the war.
President,
Since the UN Security Council last convened to discuss Russian aggression against Ukraine two weeks ago, Russia has significantly stepped up its killing of Ukrainian civilians and attacks against civilian infrastructure. The deliberate shelling of the civilian population in Kyiv and Kryvyi Rih over the weekend is yet another war crime.
Among the 20 civilians killed in Russian ballistic missile strikes in Kryvyi Rih, 9 were children. This abhorrent bombing with cluster munition of a residential area and a playground was conducted with the only aim to sow fear and terror. This is another reason Russia deserves to be listed in the annexes of the annual Children and Armed Conflicts report for carrying out grave violations against children in Ukraine. According to verified data, Russia has killed over 600 Ukrainian children since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in 2022, while the real numbers might be higher. In addition, the abductions and deportations of Ukrainian children continue, for which the ICC has already issued arrest warrants for Putin and Lvova-Belova, that constitute another reprehensible violation of international law.
President,
Russia does not act alone in its neocolonial and imperial madness. The involvement of Iran, the DPRK and Belarus in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine must stop immediately. The transfer of weapons between the DPRK and Russia, and the involvement of the DPRK’s troops fighting on Russia’s side constitutes a major escalation with far-reaching global consequences.
President,
Since Russia’s invasion, Ukraine has repeatedly expressed its unwavering commitment to reach a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in line with the UN Charter. To exemplify its commitment, Ukraine has agreed to a full and unconditional ceasefire. In contrast, Russia rejected the ceasefire proposal, has not taken any credible steps towards reaching peace, engages in ethnic cleansing and social engineering on the occupied territories of Ukraine and keeps on raising its political demands. It is evident that Russia is deliberately dragging its feet in an attempt to deceive US negotiators, to conquer more Ukrainian territory and to terrorise Ukraine’s civilian population. As the Russian attacks against Ukraine have intensified significantly during last month, it’s high time to also increase international pressure and to force Russia to peace in Ukraine.
President,
We continue to stand by Ukraine and reiterate our collective efforts aimed at reaching a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in line with the UN Charter, the international law and relevant UN General Assembly resolutions.
I thank you.