Mr Chairperson,  

As a victim of Russia’s aggression, Ukraine has been seeking peace from the very first second of this war. For all 4040 days since the occupation of Crimea.  

And from the very beginning, Ukraine’s position has been crystal clear.

We want a reliable and lasting peace that guarantees that war will not return to the Ukrainian home, thus meaning security and prosperity for the Ukrainian people.

With that goal, the delegation of Ukraine went to Saudi Arabia to meet with the United States representatives on 11 March. As a result, important steps were taken toward restoring durable peace for Ukraine.

In this good faith Ukraine has agreed to the US proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties.

This ceasefire will only start working if it is accepted and implemented by Russia. In other words, Russia’s reciprocity in good faith is the key.    

The humanitarian relief was also discussed. This is an important – confidence building – part of the peace process.  

It includes the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children.  

People cannot be the spoils of war. Nor can they be used as bargaining chips. Nor can they be held hostage to put pressure on international organisations and their members. As happened to three OSCE officials who should never have been detained.  

It was also agreed that European partners should be involved in the process.  

The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has already had numerous contacts with his European counterparts to inform them of the outcomes of the meeting in Jedda.  

This work will continue. Ukraine will be fully transparent with its partners on the issues that matter for the European security and future. Our position is clear – no discussion about Europe without Europe.

Once again, Ukraine is ready to work on the peace track. 

As President Zelenskyy said: “When the agreements come into force, during these 30 days of silence, we, together with our partners, will have enough time to prepare all the aspects at the level of framework documents to ensure a reliable peace and lasting security guarantees. Ukraine is ready for peace. Russia must also show whether it is ready to end the war – or continue it. It is time for the full truth”.

 

Excellencies,

Yet, the truth, so far, is worrying. Russia’s attacks on Ukraine continue unabated.

Over the past week Russia has tried everything – from massive missile attacks to nightly drone barrages, to double-tap strikes, to “human safari” in Kherson and so on.

In particular, last Friday my country was bombarded with 67 missiles and 194 drones.

As Russia sought to exacerbate the humanitarian situation, critical energy infrastructure, including gas production, was the main target. Various facilities were damaged in several regions.  

Not to mention the energy infrastructure of the Odesa region, which was attacked by Russia for the fourth night in a row

The attack came shortly after Ukraine proposed aerial and maritime ceasefire.

Since then, these aerial attacks have continued every night. On 8 March – 145 drones and 3 missiles were launched at Ukraine; on 9 March – 119 drones; on 10 March – 176 drones; on 11 March – 126 drones and a ballistic missile; on 12 March – 133 UAVs and 3 ballistic missiles.  

As I mentioned, Russia has again resorted to the use of double-tap strikes.

This poses a deadly threat to the rescuers and first responders.

It is a gross violation of international humanitarian law and simply immoral and sickening.

As it happened on 7 March in Dobropillia, Donetsk region.

The strike was deliberately planned to cause maximum casualties.

Twelve people were killed. Among them was an employee of the State Emergency Service.

50 others were wounded, including seven children – the youngest victim was a 10-year-old girl.

Russia also carried out a double tap-strike on Kryvyi Rih on 11 March. One person was killed and 14 others were wounded. There was a 20-minute gap between the two strikes. That is enough time for rescuers to reach the site.

Russia has not given up its plans to weaponize food, either.

On 11 March, Russia attacked the port of Odesa. A ballistic missile damaged a Barbados-flagged vessel, killing four people. All of them were foreigners.

At the moment of the attack, the civilian vessel was loading wheat for export to Algeria as a part of the program “Grain from Ukraine”.

On 8 March, a drone attack killed three civilians and injured seven others in Bohodukhiv, Kharkiv region.

On 9 March, Russian troops struck Chernihiv region with artillery, mortars, and FPV drones. A 59-year-old man was killed.

On 10 March, a hospital, a church, and a gas pipeline were damaged with artillery fire in Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk region.

Even by stopping here, it is clear that Russia is focused on killing, destruction and conquest.

Not only Russia’s actions, but also its rhetoric show that Moscow has not changed its revanchist and imperialistic demands regarding Ukraine.   

This proves that a root cause of this war and its continuation remains the same.

It is Putin's denial of Ukraine's very right to exist, and his territorial claims.

This is his and Russia’s war of choice.

Driven by these intentions, since the beginning of the year alone, Russia has lost almost 91,000 people.     

How many more people is the Russian leadership prepared to kill before he finally recognizes that Ukraine is an independent and sovereign state? That the Ukrainian people want to determine their own future? And that the Ukrainians will always defend sovereign and independent Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders?

Russia must stop this senseless war. And to accept the only reality where principles of international law are respected, including sovereign equality, inviolability of borders, territorial integrity. These are the fundamentals of our common security and prosperity. As well as ensuring accountability for all crimes committed is a necessary guarantee for the future generations against the repetition of these crimes.      

But until Russia abandons its genocidal plans, Ukraine will continue to exercise its right to self-defense, as provided for by international law, namely, Article 51 of the UN Charter.

This resistance is the guarantee of our very survival as a nation and as a state.

That said, we are grateful to all the partners for standing with Ukraine, for enhancing our defense capabilities, including by providing security assistance, for helping us to protect and save human lives.

Ukraine and Europe should be strong enough to ensure that any agreements are respected and to prevent future attempts of aggression.

To conclude, Ukraine is ready to do its part. But Russia must stop its daily attacks on Ukraine if it really wants to end the war and return to the principles of international law.  

 

I thank you, Mr Chairperson.