UN Security Council Briefing on Maintenance of Peace and Security of Ukraine
Statement delivered by H.E. Mr. Rein Tammsaar, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Estonia to the United Nations
16 January 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 of the European Union. I use this opportunity to welcome all of the new Members of the UN Security Council and I thank Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo for the briefing. We also commend OCHA in Ukraine for their admirable efforts in mobilising and coordinating aid to people whose lives have been upended by the war. We urge UN membership to step up lifesaving contributions to the Ukrainian humanitarian fund.
President,
According to UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, at least 2,064 civilians were killed and 9,089 injured in 2024, a 30 per cent rise compared with 2023. Starting from the New Years’ Day, Russia has already killed civilians in Kyiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Chernihiv, while also continuing to shell Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Russia’s strikes on the city of Zaporizhzhia on the 8th of January caused the highest number of civilian casualties in almost two years.
As was discussed at the Arria-formula meeting on “Violations of international humanitarian law against Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian detainees” earlier this week, there has been alarming increase in execution of prisoners of war by Russia. Deliberate killing of civilians and murdering prisoners of war are grave war crimes. Continuing abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children, for which the ICC has issued an arrest warrant to Putin and Lvova-Belova, constitutes another reprehensible violation of international law by Russia.
In addition to the daily atrocities against Ukrainian civilians, on the 25th of December, Russia downed a commercial airliner flying through its airspace, killing 38 people and seriously injuring many others. This is a horrific act underscores the regime’s disregard for human life and international law. Sadly, this tragic incident is not an isolated case. 5 years ago, Iran killed 176 people on board the Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 as it was shot down in the Iranian airspace. In 2014, the Russian-backed forces in Eastern Ukraine shot down the Malaysian Airlines flight MH17.
Russia and its accomplices have a proven history of recklessly endangering civilian air travel, including downing civilian aircrafts and subsequently attempting to cover up their crimes with a barrage of disinformation, propaganda, and outright lies. Russia´s war of aggression is not compatible with its Permanent member status at the UN Security Council, as it is Russia itself who has become the biggest threat to global peace and security.
President,
Russia does not act alone. 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.
We continue to urge China, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council with a particular responsibility to upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, to exercise its influence to end Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
President,
Against the backdrop of constant calls for peace around this table, Russia’s leadership driven by its imperialist delusion, has ruled out ending the war in Ukraine until the goals of its’ aggression are achieved.
We stand with the Ukrainian people and reiterate our unwavering support to Ukraine’s right for self-defense, and to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.
We call upon all UN members to support Ukraine’s Peace Formula, which is the only viable framework to secure a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, based on the principles of the UN Charter.
I thank you.