“It is imperative that peace be prioritized,” stated the UN Secretary-General, as the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches.
“Two years on and a decade since Russia’s attempted illegal annexation of Ukraine’s Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, the war in Ukraine remains an open wound at the heart of Europe,” António Guterres said.
“It is imperative that we achieve a peaceful solution, one that is fair and in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter, international law, and General Assembly resolutions,” he emphasized.
The Secretary-General reminded the Security Council members, along with various Ministers and ambassadors, of the United Nations’ principle that all its Members are equally sovereign.
According to the UN Charter, he declared that conflicts between nations should be resolved through peaceful methods and that all countries must avoid using force or threats to violate the territorial integrity or political independence of other nations.
“In every conflict, all individuals experience hardship.”
Mr. Guterres noted the plight of innocent civilians affected by the conflict from both sides.
In Ukraine, over 10,500 innocent citizens have lost their lives and countless others have been wounded. Essential civilian structures such as schools and hospitals have been demolished, and there are hundreds of towns and villages without power during a harsh winter season.
Millions of individuals have been displaced from their residences and numerous families, particularly those living on the frontlines, rely on aid from humanitarian organizations.
“Many Ukrainians are experiencing the living nightmare of losing their children. All children that have been deported must be reunited with their families,” Mr. Guterres said.
He stated that the war is causing harm to the citizens of Russia, particularly the deaths of many young Russians in combat. Additionally, civilians in Russian cities are also experiencing suffering due to strikes.
The risk of the situation escalating is highly likely.
The Secretary-General expressed serious worry about the potential for the conflict to intensify and spread, stating that this possibility is highly likely.
He stated that the war is causing greater divides between different regions of the world, intensifying instability in these areas, and limiting the capacity to tackle other pressing global matters.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Guterres stated that following Russia’s complete invasion of Ukraine, there have been two years of conflict, two years of hardship, and two years of exacerbating tensions and straining international relationships.
“Enough,” he stressed, noting that scorning the Charter has been the problem, and honouring it is the solution.
He stated that it is important to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity as recognized by the international community. It is now necessary to reaffirm our dedication to the Charter and reinforce our compliance with international laws.
“The road to peace and stability, whether in Ukraine or globally.”
The United Nations Security Council convened to discuss upholding peace and security in Ukraine.
France is urging Russia to stop the war immediately.
French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné speaks at the United Nations Security Council meeting regarding the preservation of peace and security in Ukraine.
French Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Séjourné said that Russia has been waging a war for two years, an unjust, unjustifiable and illegal war of aggression after seeking to invade its neighbour and take its territory for 10 years.
According to him, Moscow’s deceitful excuses and widespread misinformation on social media cannot conceal the obvious and unquestionable reality.
He went on to say that unlike Russia, Ukraine is seeking peace.
Last week, while in Paris, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy put forth a peace proposal that was first introduced over a year ago. Ukraine has since outlined important principles and engaged in talks with various global partners, not limited to just Europe.
He stated that the Ukrainian people desire peace above all else.
The Council has a responsibility to strive for the success of Ukraine, as it would signify the success of the Charter. The act of forcefully and aggressively overthrowing societies should not be tolerated. Russia must cease this war and remove its troops from Ukrainian land, which rightfully does not belong to them.
United Kingdom: ‘We must all take a stand against Putin.’
The United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, David Cameron, speaks at the Security Council meeting regarding the preservation of peace and security in Ukraine.
David Cameron, the UK’s Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, stated that the Council is convening two years after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to launch an unprovoked attack on a sovereign member of the United Nations.
He posed a straightforward question to Putin, asking about Russia’s fulfillment of its duties as a permanent member of the Council in maintaining global peace and security. He also questioned the numerous outlandish justifications given for the invasion.
This is the reality: According to Mr. Putin, he has the power to claim land, change borders, and use force to expand his empire. He questioned whether the Council would allow this to happen.
“We know Ukraine’s answer, for we saw the courage of President Zelenskyy two years ago; the Kremlin expected Ukraine to fold, but they are standing firm for their freedom,” Mr. Cameron said, adding that on Thursday, the UK imposed further sanctions, clamping down on Russia’s military-industrial complex and those enablers seeking to keep it running.
“He continued by stating that these sanctions serve as a reminder. By boldly taking action, Putin is openly attempting to disrupt the global structure, replacing it not with a modern belief in equal nations, but rather reverting back to a 19th century mindset where strength, specifically his own, is the determining factor.”
He stated that it is crucial for all of us to stand up against Putin, not just for the sake of Ukraine, but because his actions in Ukraine pose a threat to everyone. He also emphasized the importance of sovereignty in the international system and the UN.
“He stated that it is imperative for us to witness Putin’s failure above all else. We must remain steadfast and resolute, without wavering.”
The United States is calling for international backing of Ukraine.
United States Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield spoke at the Security Council meeting about ensuring peace and security in Ukraine.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the United States to the UN, recalled that two years ago, as Council members sitting around the same table called for diplomacy and de-escalation, “President [Vladimir] Putin openly chose war.”
She stated that the world witnessed Russia’s aggressive actions in real time, and the decision between using force or diplomacy, war or peace, was also unfolding in real time.
“Even with President Putin’s efforts, the world still witnesses Russian aggression, deceit and inhumanity,” she stated.
The US ambassador expressed concern about the devastating effects of the “unreasonable conflict” on worldwide food shortages, energy resources, environmental harm, and the international efforts to prevent the spread of weapons.
She stated that despite facing brutality, death, and devastation, the Ukrainian citizens have successfully resisted – despite being greatly outnumbered, they have not only protected their territory, but also their liberties, democratic system, and cultural identity.
Ms. Thomas-Greenfield urged for increased assistance to Ukraine in its pursuit of a fair and enduring peace, aligned with the core principles of the UN Charter.
She stated that there should be no confusion: if Russia disarms now, the war will come to a conclusion. However, if Ukraine disarms, it would result in the end of Ukraine.
Russia claims that Ukraine is losing in the proxy war.
Russian Federation’s Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia speaks at the Security Council meeting regarding the preservation of peace and security in Ukraine.
The Russian Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Vassily Nebenzia, stated that the Western bloc attempted to push their peaceful proposals a year ago and deliberately influenced Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to believe he could defeat Russia. However, Ukraine has been unsuccessful, while the West persists in supplying weapons to the country and discussing unattainable peace possibilities.
He stated that it is becoming more evident to the citizens of Ukraine that their government is ineffective and lacks autonomy. In the ongoing proxy war, Ukraine is currently at a disadvantage.
In recent times, the European Union has been referred to as a subordinate entity under the control of the United States. This has resulted in significant economic losses for Germany, amounting to billions of dollars due to sanctions imposed on Russia.
The bloc’s decision to increase its reliance on the US for energy instead of maintaining relations with its neighbor, Russia, is causing harm to itself and fueling anti-Russian sentiments.
Two years ago, he stated that “we deployed our soldiers to put an end to a conflict” in the Donbas area, not to initiate one.
Regarding the Minsk accords, he stated that France, the UK, and other countries did not view these agreements with importance. Meanwhile, Ukraine increased its military operations with other nations.
He stated that all conflicts eventually come to an end. He also believes that the Ukrainian conflict will also reach a resolution. However, the longer it continues with support from the West, the less beneficial it will be for Ukraine in terms of achieving peace.
The speaker stated that Europe is currently experiencing a lack of strategic vision and is disregarding Russia’s rightful defense concerns. This short-sighted approach is further perpetuated by the bloc’s dissemination of anti-Russia propaganda, similar to tactics used by the US in the Cold War.
He stated that the discussion of a just security system in Europe and North America is necessary, and pointed out that NATO’s current actions involve the belief that their expansion is an undeniable entitlement.
Rephrase: In China, the focus is on finding a practical resolution.
China’s Ambassador Zhang Jun speaks at the Security Council meeting regarding the preservation of peace and security in Ukraine.
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of China to the UN, Zhang Jun, stated that it is crucial for the international community to actively seek a reasonable resolution to the conflict in order to establish lasting peace.
According to him, the main goal should be to reach a political resolution, with efforts directed towards ending hostilities, initiating face-to-face discussions, and achieving peace.
He urged the conflicting parties to demonstrate accountability and work towards easing tensions.
The Chinese ambassador reiterated that giving weapons and fueling conflict is not the answer. He emphasized that we must persist in pursuing shared security.
He stated that we need to address the valid worries of every nation.
He stated that the current state of Europe can be attributed to the growth of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). He also emphasized the need for introspection and viewing the world with an unbiased perspective.
He stated that every country, regardless of size, has the right to be part of the global community. He emphasized that reverting to the colonial period is not a viable choice.
The ambassador emphasized that bullying is not an effective approach, but instead, win-win cooperation is. They also expressed China’s disapproval of the sanctions imposed by the US and UK, citing the Ukraine issue as the reason.
He stated that China is not involved in the conflict and has consistently emphasized the importance of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations, including Ukraine.
to seize Crimea
Ukraine asserts that Russia does not have the legal authority to capture Crimea.
The Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, speaks at the Security Council session regarding the protection of peace and security in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, mentioned that the Council gathering coincided with an ongoing air attack in the country and occurred less than an hour after a residential building in Odesa was struck, resulting in serious injuries to two civilians.
He expressed concern that there may be a death in Ukraine before the meeting ends, as discussing negotiations is different from Russia’s ongoing actions of using drones and missiles on Ukraine.
Mr. Kuleba told the Council that Russia’s name “is synonymous with aggression, war crimes and barbarism” while “its ugly face is the direct result of its impunity, stemming first and foremost from its presence in this chamber’s seat.”
According to him, the Russian Federation has taken over the position of the now-defunct Soviet Union, and there has been no official transfer of its seat in the Council.
“The speaker stated that a minor act of fraud had resulted in a worldwide disaster. They continue to assert that Russia has no legitimate claim to be included in this discussion, and that future reforms should rectify this significant error which has resulted in fatal outcomes.”
He stated that President Putin’s rule of approximately 24 years has greatly impacted and harmed countless lives. This is evident as Russia has either initiated or become involved in three significant wars (Georgia, Ukraine, and Syria) in the span of eight years, indicating a trend of one every eight years.
He mentioned that the country supports the attempted coup in Montenegro and is also involved in destabilizing the Sahel region in Africa.
“The most alarming aspect is that our attention must now shift beyond the lives already lost due to Russia’s actions, and also towards the potential lives it is willing to harm in the future.”
According to Mr. Kuleba, decisive and collaborative efforts are necessary in order to confront the aggressor and bring back global peace and stability.
Source: news.un.org
