UN Security Council meeting on Maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine
Statement delivered by Ms. Katri Lõhmus, Deputy Permanent Representative of Estonia on behalf of the Baltic States
9 October 2026, New York
President,
I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Baltic States. We align ourselves with the statement of the European Union.
As brave Ukrainian armed forces were able to stop the advancement of Russian troops across the frontline and started to gain back Ukrainian territory, Kremlin was forced to shift tactics and is now focusing on bringing death, terror, destruction and suffering to the entire Ukrainian population. With no limits, no remorse, against every norm of the international humanitarian law.
Ahead of the fifth winter of full-scale war, Ukraine is facing Russia’s relentless bombardment of infrastructure that is keeping the Ukrainian economy going and assuring survival of tens of millions of people. Russia is deliberately targeting transport and logistics infrastructure – railways, ports and border crossings – not only to destroy critical links, but disrupting evacuations, humanitarian deliveries and the movement of people and goods across the country.
According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission, civilian casualties during the first eight months of 2026 increased by 55 percent compared to the same period last year.
Russia’s strikes targeting Greater Odessa, Chornomorsk, Reni, Izmail, and Danube River ports, the destruction of grain storages and attacks against merchant vessels navigating through Black Sea have disrupted global grain supplies to regions dependent on Ukrainian exports, such as parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Russia’s attacks have driven up maritime insurance costs, and amplified broader global food price pressures. We all are paying increasing price for this neocolonial barbarity unleashed by Kremlin.
The Baltic States strongly condemn the continued military support provided by the DPRK, Belarus, and Iran to Russia, which enables it to sustain its war of aggression against Ukraine. We also call on China to end its role as a decisive enabler of this war, including by providing the dual-use technology and components that help Russia produce weapons and continue its aggression against Ukraine.
President,
The UN Commission of Inquiry has documented widespread war crimes by Russian forces and concluded that Russian authorities committed crimes against humanity. For four consecutive years, Russia’s armed forces have been listed in UN reports on Children and Armed Conflict. They are now also listed for conflict-related sexual violence.
Security Council resolution 2242 welcomed the Secretary-General’s decision to prohibit repeatedly listed countries from participating in UN peacekeeping operations. We call for this decision to be applied to Russia. Forces implicated in such grave violations have no place under the UN flag.
President,
Let me stress again that the only credible way to comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine is by forcing Russia, first, to immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire, and then to peace. For this we need to exercise maximum pressure and raise the cost of aggression for Russia until it will be forced to end this war.
The Baltic States remain unwavering in our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity under the UN Charter as well as in demanding full accountability for all the crimes committed in Ukraine, including the crime of aggression.
I thank you.