UN Security Council Briefing on Maintenance of Peace and Security of Ukraine
Statement delivered by H.E. Rytis Paulauskas, Permanent Representative of Lithuania on behalf of the Baltic States – Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
18 November 2024, New York
President,
Thank you for convening today’s Security Council briefing. I thank the briefers for their valuable insight.
I have the honor to speak on behalf of the three Baltic States – Estonia, Latvia, and my own country, Lithuania. We also align ourselves with the Statement of the European Union.
Today we must recall the horror of peaceful towns and villages of Ukraine, that 1000 days ago overnight were turned into rubble and their residents became victims of Russia’s war crimes. Only the town of Bucha (Kyiv region), which was under Russia’s troops control in March 2022, suffered over 100 killings.
This weekend alone Russia launched more than 120 missiles and 90 drones targeting Ukraine civilian infrastructure. In Odessa 10 people there killed, over 40 injured.
Russia continues to violate the UN Charter, disregarding multiple GA resolutions, including on “Principles of the UN Charter underlying a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine”, that was adopted in February 2023 with a majority of 141 votes and ignoring the order of the International Court of Justice to immediately suspend all military operations in Ukraine.
Also, on 17 March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants against Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova over allegations of involvement in the war crimes of child abduction during the invasion of Ukraine. Over 19 000 Ukrainian children have been taken from Ukraine to Russia.
Ukrainian people continue to fall victims of Russia’s attacks. The latest OHCHR report has documented that conflict-related violence since 2022 killed over 11,000 civilians and injured over 24,000. At least 208 civilians were killed and 1,220 injured in Ukraine in September this year, making it the month with the highest number of civilian casualties (killed and injured) in 2024. We are witnessing a disturbing surge in aerial attacks by Russia targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure. Over the past two months, the use of long-range drone attacks by Russia’s forces has escalated dramatically.
In this regard I would like to express our appreciation for the work done by the UN in Ukraine, OCHA, UNHCR, UNDP and other humanitarian agencies working tirelessly and under threat to alleviate suffering of the Ukrainian people facing Russia’s war of aggression.
In 2024, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have been included in the Ukraine Regional Refugee Response Plan coordinated by the UNHCR. It complements the Government-led responses to provide protection and support for refugees from Ukraine. Over 170 000 refugees are being hosted in the Baltic States this year.
President,
Russia has stepped up its war of aggression by turning to alliance with the DPRK, which violates multiple UN Security Council resolutions – namely, resolution 1718 (2006), resolution 1874 (2009), and resolution 2270 (2016) – all which Russia itself supported and committed to uphold.
The DPRK’s involvement, by providing ballistic missiles and now troops and heavy weapons, in Russia’s war against Ukraine poses an increasing threat to regional stability in Europe and Asia, with severe global repercussions. This escalation from Russia and the DPRK demands firm international response.
The Baltic States strongly condemn the DPRK, as well as Belarus and Iran who are aiding Russia in waging its cruel war of aggression against Ukraine. We urge all states to withdraw all assistance to Russia, including the provision of dual-use goods and sensitive items. The Baltic States also call on China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to safeguard the principles enshrined in the UN Charter, and to exercise its influence to end this dangerous escalation.
We call on the Technical Secretariat of the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to monitor the situation in Ukraine closely, as Russia is reportedly using chemical weapons in Ukraine.
President,
Today, as we count 1000 days of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and almost 4000 days since the beginning of Russia’s annexation of Crimea and invasion of eastern Ukraine, the Baltic States reiterate our strong condemnation of this cruel and manifest violation of the UN Charter. We also reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine’s right to defend its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.
We fully support Ukraine’s Victory Plan. First and foremost, this includes Ukraine joining NATO. Ukraine’s membership in NATO is the key for long-term security and stability in Europe – and our own security is incomplete without it.
We strongly reject attempts to pressure Ukraine to negotiate on unfavorable terms, at the expense of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, as this approach has nothing to do with just and sustainable peace. Ukraine alone shall define the terms of peace, in accordance with the principles of international law and Ukraine’s Peace Formula, prioritizing its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and holding Russia fully accountable. Only just peace can be truly sustainable.
We demand Russia to unconditionally, completely and immediately withdraw all its military forces and equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.
I thank you.
