A UN official urges for the root causes of the Ukraine war to be addressed, as the anniversary of the Russian invasion approaches.
Miroslav Jenča, the UN’s Deputy Secretary-General for Europe in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), cautioned that the ongoing conflict could potentially hinder the chances of finding a fair and lasting resolution.
He informed ambassadors in the Security Council that the upcoming anniversary of the invasion is not just a time to reflect on the tragic events of the last two years, but also a reminder that the armed conflict in Ukraine started in 2014 in the eastern region, not on 24 February 2022.
Mr. Jenča is giving a briefing to the Security Council.
He emphasized that the United Nations is and will continue to be completely dedicated to upholding the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
Mr. Jenča noted that though the UN was not formally part of any mechanism related to the peace process in Ukraine, over the years it had expressed “full support” to all diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict, in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions.
Address root causes
He emphasized the importance of peace processes that tackle the underlying issues of the conflict.
The speaker emphasized that peace agreements are not enough to stop violence. In addition, peace processes must tackle the underlying issues of the conflict and involve women and youth equally, as well as include the voices of civil society.
“We must strive for a fair, enduring, and all-encompassing peace for Ukraine, the region, and the world. This should align with the principles of the UN Charter, abide by international law, and follow the resolutions of the General Assembly,” he stated.
Humanitarian situation
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), hostilities in Ukraine persisted over the weekend and into Monday.
On February 10th, an evening attack in the eastern city of Kharkiv resulted in a large fire at an oil storage facility. The fire spread to nearby homes and officials reported over 50 injuries. The electricity supply in the region was also affected by the fire.
“According to UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, aid organizations are actively working to distribute warm meals and necessary materials for immediate repairs. Additionally, they are offering mental health and psychosocial assistance at the location of the incident.”
The state energy provider has reported damage to energy facilities in several regions, including Dnipro, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, and Mykolaiv. The main energy company of Ukraine has stated that 386 towns and villages are currently without electricity due to the consequences of hostilities.
The source of the news is the United Nations.
