EU Statement – UN Security Council: Maintenance of Peace and Security of Ukraine

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President,

Thank you for convening this emergency meeting. Thank you to ASG Jenca for his update. I warmly welcome the Ukrainian Prime Minister to this meeting.

As high-level talks for peace are ongoing, as European leaders work with Ukraine and our allies to stop the killing, as we are hopefully reaching, finally, a moment of truth for peace in Ukraine, Russia has once again shown us its true intentions, with another massive and brutal overnight attack against Ukrainian cities and civilians. Ordinary civilians, including children as young as two years old, have paid the ultimate price of Russia’s unprovoked, unjustified and illegal aggression. Without the effective intervention of Ukrainian air defences, who reportedly destroyed 589 out of 629 Russian drones and missiles, the civilian toll would have undoubtedly been dramatically higher.

I was shocked to learn that multiple Russian missiles struck close to the EU Delegation in Kyiv, causing severe damage on our premises by the shock waves. Fortunately, none of our colleagues were injured, but a security guard of the British Council was. I thank many of you for your statements of solidarity and concern which I will convey to my colleagues in Kyiv. We will of course not be intimidated. Such blatant violations of international law and the inviolability of diplomatic premises only strengthen our resolve to stand with Ukraine and its people.

These latest Russian attacks are part of a broader plan: over the past few months, it has intensified its attacks across Ukraine, targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure. Intentionally directing an attack against civilians or civilian objects is a war crime, if anyone needs reminding.

The increasingly tone-deaf and hypocritical statements the Russian Federation makes in this Chamber simply underscore the calculated intentionality of their continued aggression against a sovereign country and blatant violations of international law.

Our objective remains clear: the EU supports an immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire. We also welcome the efforts by the US to seek an end to Russia’s war of aggression and to stop the killing. As EU, we contribute to these efforts in order to achieve a just and lasting peace and long-term security for Ukraine and our continent.

I urge all members of this Council to use their influence and maximize pressure on Russia to accept an immediate ceasefire and work towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

In addition, the EU strongly condemns support by third countries, and actors and entities therein, which enable Russia to sustain its war of aggression. We urge all countries to immediately cease any direct or indirect assistance to Russia in its war of aggression.

Russia and its leadership must be held fully accountable for waging a war of aggression against Ukraine and for these other serious crimes under international law, as well as for the massive damage caused by its war.

Colleagues,

On 24 August, we celebrated Ukraine’s Independence Day, and the exceptional resilience Ukrainians have demonstrated in defending their right to exist as a country. Russia’s continued aggression and neo-colonial actions remind us independence and freedom can never be taken for granted.

That is why the EU will remain united in providing political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine, as it exercises its inherent right of self-defence. We will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine and in defense of the UN Charter and international law. I respectfully submit that this Council, without any wavering or any hesitation, do the same, at a time when Russia intensifies its killings and continues to pursue its illegal objectives, instead of peace.

Thank you.