Mr. Chairperson,

I would like to deliver a statement on the subject of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine.

Over the last week alone, Russia launched more than 3,250 attack drones, nearly 1,800 guided aerial bombs, and 88 missiles of various types against Ukraine. As a result, at least 73 civilians were killed and 394 were injured across the country.

These figures clearly reflect the daily reality of Russian terror: destroyed homes, devastated communities, grieving families, and innocent lives taken by a war that Russia alone started and Russia alone can end.

At the same time, Ukraine’s Defence Forces continue to resist effectively and maintain the initiative in several key sectors. Since the beginning of this year, they have liberated more than 600 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory. For five consecutive months, the aggressor has been losing over 30,000 troops killed and wounded per month — more than the Soviet Union lost during the entire ten-year war in Afghanistan. The picture is clear: Russia is not winning on the battlefield.

Ukraine is also systematically limiting Russia’s ability to sustain its aggression. Our mid- and long-range sanctions continue to degrade Russia’s military-industrial, energy, and fuel infrastructure that directly supports the war effort. In May alone, Ukrainian forces successfully struck 111 such enemy facilities.

Distinguished colleagues,

On 7 June, following their meeting in London, the Presidents of Ukraine and France, together with the Heads of Government of Germany and the United Kingdom, issued a joint statement on the conditions for achieving a lasting peace in Europe. This once again confirms a fundamental truth: Ukraine has always been, is, and will remain an integral part of the European family.

The Kremlin’s reaction to this growing unity is becoming increasingly aggressive: more escalation, more blackmail, and more attempts to spread instability beyond Ukraine’s borders.

We would like to emphasize that the recent incidents — involving uncrewed surface vessel that lost control in the port of Constanța due to Russian electronic warfare systems, as well as a drone that crashed on the territory of Moldova — are a direct and predictable consequence of Russia’s ongoing full-scale aggression against Ukraine.

These incidents clearly demonstrate how Russia’s war against Ukraine continues to destabilize the entire region, creating unacceptable security risks not only for Ukraine, but also for neighboring countries and European security as a whole.

We also continue to see Russian attacks that pose serious threats to nuclear safety, including the recent strike on the Centralized Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility near Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

On 7 June, a Russian drone struck the container reception building of the Centralized Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility near the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. The explosion caused significant damage to the facility and nearby structures, including premises used by IAEA experts. This reckless attack created serious risks to nuclear safety and security, undermined the international nuclear safeguards regime, and demonstrated Russia’s blatant disregard for IAEA principles, standards, and guidance.

Such actions constitute a crime against global nuclear security and qualify as a war crime.

Mr. Chairperson,

Ukraine has never been, and will never be, an obstacle to peace. We consistently seek a diplomatic solution aimed at restoring a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace. Ukraine remains ready for an immediate, unconditional, and comprehensive ceasefire.

However, peace cannot be built on illusions or coercion. It must be based on an immediate ceasefire, full respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, credible security guarantees, accountability for the crimes committed, and the protection of broader European security in line with the principles and decision-making procedures of the EU and NATO.

On 4 June, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed an open letter to Putin, proposing concrete steps to end the war honestly, with dignity, and with firm guarantees that the war will not resume. The President once again expressed Ukraine’s readiness for a direct meeting at the leaders’ level to resolve the issues of war and peace.

Russia’s response was yet another choice in favour of war. President Putin stated that he “sees no point” in meeting with President Zelenskyy. This refusal clearly demonstrates that Moscow is not interested in genuine peace. Instead, it seeks to prolong the war, evade accountability, and continue its aggression.

Thank you, Mr. Chairperson.