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 Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
26 March 2025, New York
President,
I have the honor to speak on behalf of the three Baltic States – Estonia, Latvia, and my own country, Lithuania. We align ourselves with the Statement of the European Union.
We thank the briefers for the information provided. The Baltic States strongly support the role of the UN agencies and volunteers providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. We have joined the UN regional refugee response and contribute to Humanitarian needs and response plan.
Russia’s war of aggression continues to cause suffering for Ukrainian people. Every single day, Russia continues its criminal actions against Ukrainian civilians despite all the UN General Assembly resolutions, including those adopted on February 24, and despite the Security Council resolution adopted on the same day.
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 reach such peace, Ukraine agreed to an unconditional ceasefire two weeks ago. In response, Russia has not taken any credible steps towards accepting the ceasefire and only keeps on raising its demands, while committing further violence against civilians in Ukraine. If Russia is serious about reaching peace, it would stop murdering innocent civilians, withdraw their armed forces from the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine and implement the UN resolutions.
The recent attacks perpetrated by Russia this month further indicate that their goals in Ukraine have remained unchanged. According to the most recent OHCHR report at least 123 civilians were killed and 567 injured in Ukraine in February 2025 alone. The vast majority of civilian casualties (94 per cent) and damage to educational and health facilities (94 per cent) occurred in territory controlled by Ukraine. Russia has also continued restricting humanitarian access and complicating the delivery of life-saving aid to those most affected. We also fear for the faith of civilians in the temporary occupied territories as humanitarian access for humanitarian workers to these territories is non-existent.
The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, in its March 11 report, has stated that Russian authorities committed enforced disappearances and torture as part of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population and pursuant to a coordinated state policy.
Putin’s latest decree forcing Ukrainians in Russia or temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine to leave or to receive Russian documents by September 10 is yet another example of Russia’s ongoing policy of ethnic cleansing, russification and forced assimilation aiming to erase Ukrainian identity and nation. This is in gross violation with the International Human Rights Law and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
President,
The Baltic States strongly condemn Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, in blatant violation of the UN Charter and international law. Russia’s continued attacks against civilians, including children, humanitarian workers and medical personnel constitute heinous war crimes. Russia rejects all laws, agreements and commitments when it comes to pursuing its imperial war of aggression.
We demand full accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Launched last April, the Register of Damage for those affected by Russia’s aggression enabled work on a compensation mechanism. Furthermore, the European Court of Human Rights is dealing with over 4,000 cases against Russia related to events in Crimea, Donbas and the wider war against Ukraine.
While war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide can be prosecuted by the International Criminal Court, the crime of aggression can only be prosecuted by a Special Tribunal.
The Baltic States have continuously advocated for a strong and effective Special Tribunal that would be empowered to bring justice for the crime of aggression against Ukraine having broad cross-regional support.
This March, the Core Group consisting of senior legal experts of Ukraine, 37 States, the EU and the Council of Europe, have marked a significant step towards ensuring full accountability by finalizing the technical work on three draft documents necessary for the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine that will now be submitted for political consideration.
Impunity leads to repeated crimes. This must stop. No one from Russia’s highest political and military leadership is untouchable. That is the message that tribunal should send.
Accountability also forms an integral part of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. We stand by Ukraine and reiterate a call on Russia to respect its obligations under the international law, including the UN Charter, as well as international human rights and humanitarian law. The Baltic States support efforts aimed at reaching a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in line with the UN Charter and international law.
I thank you.