United Nations Security Council Briefing
On behalf of the Republic of Estonia, Republic of Lithuania and the Republic of Latvia, delivered by H.E. Ms. Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes, Permanent Representative of Latvia
6 December 2023, New York
Mister President,
I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of three Baltic States – Estonia, Lithuania and my own country Latvia. We align ourselves with the statement delivered by the European Union.
We thank today’s briefers along with France and Ecuador for convening this important meeting.
Baltic States strongly condemn Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine and call upon Russia to immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its troops and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine, within its internationally recognised borders.
Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, enabled by Belarus, is a flagrant violation of the UN Charter and international law. Violations by Russia create mistrust and doubts about the credibility and effectiveness of the UN and international rules-based system. Russian leadership, military personnel, perpetrators and accomplices will be held accountable for crimes committed in and against Ukraine. We call for the establishment of a Special International Tribunal to ensure justice. Impunity for war crimes cannot be tolerated.
Mister President,
The war will soon enter its third year, bringing pain and suffering for people of Ukraine.
At the time when global attention increasingly focuses on the crisis in the Middle East, Russia’s increased shelling of Ukrainian civilians and attempts to destroy civil infrastructure. In recent weeks we have witnessed massive attacks on Ukraine and its capital Kyiv. Largest drone attack was launched on Kyiv in 6 hours air raid on the 25th of November using 75 Shahed drones. Drones caused serious damage and electricity line shutdowns while the winter is setting in. Sadly, Russia used similar tactics last year. We strongly condemn Russia’s criminal actions in Ukraine by attacking civilians and civil infrastructure.
On the same day, the world commemorated the 90th anniversary of the Holodomor and we honoured all victims of this artificially provoked hunger. Today we are witnessing once again Russia’s crimes against the Ukrainian people by using food as a weapon. Russia weaponizes food by shelling Ukrainian grain storages, energy infrastructure and trade routes, as well as contaminating Ukrainian agricultural land and blatantly stealing Ukrainian grain. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has a global impact, and the shortage of Ukrainian produce is particularly felt by the countries that are already facing food insecurity. Therefore, we must implement Ukraine’s peace formula to jointly achieve food security goals and address the global food crisis.
Mister President,
Baltic States affirm solidarity with Ukraine and readiness to support it politically, economically, financially and militarily for as long as it takes.
International community must firmly stand together against Russia’s attack on the principles and norms of the international law. We call on every UN member state to continue providing all necessary support to Ukraine. Protecting the UN Charter, stand up for the international law is a must to preserve the multilateral system based on the rule of law. There is no place for any kind of “Might makes right” in the 21st century.
I thank you!