United Nations Security Council briefing on Ukraine
Statement delivered by H.E. Rein Tammsaar, Permanent Representative of Estonia to the UN
New York, 24 February 2026
President,
Distinguished Members of the Council,
Four years ago, the 24th February became a tragic milestone for European and global history, when Russia launched its full-scale, brutal, and unjustified war of aggression against sovereign Ukraine and Ukrainian nation.
Russia’s aggression against Ukraine continuous to be the biggest threat to global peace and security. It constitutes one of the gravest breaches of international law and of the UN Charter since its adoption.
Unfortunately, Russia´s neo-colonial imperial objectives vis-à-vis Ukraine have not changed: Kremlin wants the subjugation of the whole of Ukraine and the overturning of Europe’s security architecture in order to reverse the collapse of the Moscow-led Soviet empire.
President,
The first step towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine should be an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. We commend the efforts led by the United States to promote meaningful dialogue and advance peace. It goes without saying that any settlement must be firmly grounded in international law and in full respect of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Ukraine has consistently demonstrated that it is ready for peace. In contrast, Russia appears to be ready to continue its war of aggression until last Russian soldier and until Russia itself will collapse and disintegrate sharing the fate of its predecessor – the evil empire. We are indeed seeing no signs of Russia preparing for peace.
President,
Since 2022, at least 15 000 civilians have been killed and 40,601 injured in Ukraine by Russia, as verified by the UN (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights). The actual figures are likely much higher. As we speak, in the coldest winter in this decade, Russia is desperately trying to use cold and darkness as a weapon to undermine the morale of the Ukrainian people. After four years of one major miscalculation after another and the loss of nearly million soldiers, Russia still fails to comprehend resilience and inner strength of the Ukrainian people.
As Ukraine enters its fifth year of full-scale war, an estimated 10,8 million people require humanitarian assistance. Please allow me to use this opportunity to call on all UN Member States to deliver critical equipment, fuel supplies and other donations to help repair the energy sector of Ukraine. On our side and in addition to continuous supply of humanitarian assistance, to alleviate sufferings of the Ukrainian people, Estonia will host the Ukraine Recovery Conference in 2027 in Tallinn, which will bring together all partner and donor countries, their public and private sectors, as well as their civil society.
President,
Throughout its war of aggression against Ukraine, Russia has been using the full spectrum of heavy weaponry including armed drones and intermediate-range ballistic missiles, the so-called “Oreshnik” – capable of carrying nuclear weapons, against Ukraine’s civilian population and critical infrastructure, killing and injuring an unimaginable number of civilians, including children. On top of this the aggressor even put the functioning of Ukrainian nuclear power plants and thus the nuclear safety of the whole continent into grave danger. Such totally irresponsible nuclear Russian roulette should stop immediately.
Russia is major threat to global security. To end the war and bloodshed, all UN member states need to come together and to collectively put additional pressure on Russia in order to force it to peace in Ukraine.
We remain deeply alarmed by the continuous systematic deportation and forced transfer of Ukrainian children by Russia.
Russia’s behavior and actions are not compatible with the status and responsibilities of a Permanent Member of the Security Council, and constitute a grave violation of international law and amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. In this context we recall the ICC arrest warrants issued for Mr Putin and Mrs Lvova-Belova for the crime of deporting Ukrainian children to Russia and their illegal adoption. Accountability is a matter of justice and long-term security for all. Those responsible must be brought to justice.
To conclude, Estonia’s support to Ukraine and its people remains unwavering. We use the opportunity to call upon Russia again to immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its troops and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. This is the best and fastest route to lasting peace.
I thank you.