S/PV.10050 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Sweden and Ukraine to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting: Ms. Kayoko Gotoh, Officer-in-Charge, Europe and Central Asia Division, Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs; and Ms. Edem Wosornu, Director, Crisis Response Division, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I also invite His Excellency Mr. Stavros Lambrinidis, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I give the floor to Ms. Gotoh. Ms. Gotoh: Ukrainian civilians have continued to bear the brunt of the Russian Federation’s escalating aerial campaign. Large-scale attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have caused widespread and prolonged emergency power outages across most regions of the country, leaving millions without heating, water or public transportation as temperatures plummet. Hospitals, residential buildings, railways, schools, cultural sites, diplomatic facilities and even kindergartens have been hit. Most of the civilian casualties and damage continue to be reported in areas close to the front line, namely in the Kherson, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Chernihiv, Sumy and Donetsk regions of Ukraine. But the increased use of long-range weapons by the Russian Federation has placed many more civilians at risk. No region of Ukraine is safe. Just yesterday, at least 26 people, including three children, were reportedly killed in a Russian drone and missile attack on the western city of Ternopil. Dozens more, including children, were reportedly injured. Many remain missing under the rubble. This was one of the war’s deadliest strikes on civilians. In addition, two other western regions, Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk, were also hit. In the north-east, at least 46 people, including two children, were reportedly injured in a drone strike on the city of Kharkiv. We reiterate the Secretary-General’s strong condemnation of all such indiscriminate attacks against civilians. Yesterday’s appalling strike follows another massive attack on 14 November, in which hundreds of Russian drones and many missiles hit Kyiv, reportedly killing at least six people and injuring many others. The attack also damaged the Embassy of Azerbaijan, making it the second incident to have an impact on diplomatic premises in the capital in recent months. The same day, Russian strikes also shook the Odesa region, reportedly killing two civilians there. We are concerned about the alarming increase in civilian casualties in Ukraine, with the overall figure from January to October 2025 already exceeding the total for all of last year. In Kyiv, the number of civilian casualties was nearly 3.8 times higher in the first 10 months of 2025 than in all of 2024. According to figures confirmed by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, since the start of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, The war is reported to be increasingly affecting civilian populations inside the Russian Federation as well. According to Russian authorities, in 2025 Ukrainian drone strikes have killed 392 people, including 22 children, in the Russian Federation and in the areas of Ukraine occupied by the Russian Federation. The United Nations is not in a position to verify or confirm these reports and figures. There are also reports of escalating Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy and industrial facilities. We recall that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited under international humanitarian law. They are unacceptable wherever they occur and must stop immediately. In this context, since the escalation of the attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, the United Nations, through the United Nations Development Programme, has continued to work with the Government of Ukraine to increase the resilience and sustainability of the country’s energy sector. United Nations support has benefited more than 6 million people, enabling continued access to electricity, heating, water and sanitation in severely affected regions. My colleague from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Ms. Edem Wosornu, will provide a briefing on the humanitarian situation and operations. This includes updates on the alarming security threats faced by humanitarian workers, including the attack that hit a clearly marked United Nations humanitarian convoy on 14 October. The past months have once again highlighted the fragility of nuclear safety and security during an active war. On 23 September, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant lost all its off-site power for the tenth time since February 2022. After a month-long outage, on 23 October, the plant was successfully reconnected to Ukraine’s electrical grid. The required repairs were carried out under the protection of a local ceasefire negotiated by the International Atomic Energy Agency and observed by its teams on the ground. We commend the work of the Agency and continue to urge the sides to act responsibly. Any nuclear incident would have unimaginable consequences not only for Ukraine and the Russian Federation, but also far beyond. Such risk must be avoided at all costs. In all his engagements during the General Assembly, the Secretary-General spared no effort to focus attention on the war in Ukraine and to uphold the United Nations principled position in support of a just peace. As we meet today, Under- Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo is wrapping up a visit to Ukraine. She travelled to Kyiv to ensure continued attention on developments in Ukraine and to personally reiterate the Secretary-General’s message of the United Nations unwavering solidarity with the people of Ukraine. Earlier this year, we were encouraged by the resumption of diplomatic efforts towards a ceasefire and a search for lasting peace. Nearly four years into this war, as the attacks escalate, casualties grow and calls for an immediate and complete ceasefire increase, such efforts are even more critical. We urge concerted and inclusive diplomatic efforts resulting in tangible progress towards a just and lasting peace. The alternative is to risk letting the war prolong, expand and escalate further to even more dangerous levels. We also encourage the Russian Federation and Ukraine to continue working to secure further exchanges of prisoners of war, releases of civilian detainees and the return of Ukrainian children. In this regard, we take note of today’s exchange of mortal remains between the sides. I would like to conclude by reiterating the Secretary-General’s repeated call for a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire, as a first step towards a just, comprehensive and sustainable peace in Ukraine. This means a peace that fully

I thank Ms. Gotoh for her briefing. I now give the floor to Ms. Wosornu. Ms. Wosornu: Since the previous briefing by the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (see S/PV.9965), on 25 July, the toll of intensifying hostilities on civilians in Ukraine has continued to rise. Relentless missile and drone strikes day and night are killing and injuring civilians, destroying homes and damaging critical civilian infrastructure, including schools, health facilities and energy distribution sites. For many, each air-raid siren is a reminder that nowhere is truly safe. Civilians recently evacuated from Donetsk describe a constant buzz of drones overhead, leaving them unable to sleep or feel safe in their own homes. As freezing temperatures set in, fear, exhaustion and recurring strikes are compounding hardship nationwide. Power outages are growing more frequent, depriving families of heat and water, the very essentials for survival. Allow me to share what we are seeing on the ground and what it means for our humanitarian response. In Pokrovsk and nearby Myrnohrad, approximately 1,500 civilians, mostly older people and those with limited mobility, remain trapped without reliable access to water, power or medical care. Just 100 kilometres further north, in Lyman, fighting has left 3,000 people out of reach of humanitarian assistance. They fear being completely cut off, even as humanitarians stand ready to support whenever conditions allow. This deterioration comes amid a sharp rise in attacks harming civilian infrastructure, including health facilities. The World Health Organization has verified more than 500 attacks harming healthcare this year alone, leaving 19 people dead and nearly 200 injured. This includes an incident in October, as my colleague from the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations mentioned, when a missile struck a children’s hospital in Kherson, injuring civilians, including hospital staff. This pattern of attacks risks eroding an international legal framework that has taken more than a century to build. International humanitarian law demands that all feasible precautions be taken to avoid and minimize civilian harm. Indiscriminate attacks, including those that cause disproportionate civilian death, injury or damage, are strictly prohibited. These fundamental rules must be upheld. At the same time, displacement and humanitarian needs are growing. Some 3.7 million people are displaced in Ukraine and nearly 6 million are refugees. This year alone, approximately 122,000 people have been newly displaced, mainly from front-line oblasts. The vast majority are women, children and older people, many having moved multiple times since 2022 and now sheltering in temporary collective centres or unfinished buildings. Humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations and its partners, continue to deliver humanitarian assistance wherever access allows. Collective centres are being expanded to host new arrivals, while inter-agency convoys deliver food, water and medical supplies to those who remain in the hardest-to-reach front- line communities. Between January and September, humanitarian partners reached more than 4.2 million people, more than two thirds of the target for 2025. Humanitarian access in several front-line areas is also shrinking. At the same time, access to areas under Russian occupation remains extremely constrained. We seek sustained, predictable humanitarian access where civilians face growing humanitarian needs and have received little to no international assistance. We continue to call for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, including humanitarian and medical personnel and assets, and for safe, predictable, unimpeded and unfettered humanitarian access to all those in need. Funding remains an additional major constraint to humanitarian operations. Of the $2.63 billion required under the 2025 humanitarian response plan, we have received 46 per cent — and we are grateful to our donors — of which the winter component is thankfully 65 per cent. May I also say that, in 2024, we received 77 per cent of the funding. We are hopeful, and we urge members to contribute. Underfunding has a human cost: 72,000 displaced people lack adequate shelter, survivors of conflict- related sexual violence are left without access to specialized care, and an estimated 640,000 women and girls are affected by cuts to vital services, including those addressing gender-based violence. Overall, a growing mental health crisis is leaving millions without psychosocial support. Through the humanitarian reset under Under-Secretary-General Tom Fletcher, we continue to sharply prioritize life-saving assistance and place affected people at the centre of the response. The 2025–2026 humanitarian needs and response plan is built around those core priorities, and the Ukraine humanitarian fund, again thanks to our generous donors, is reinforcing them throughchannellingmoreresourcestolocalpartnersandsupportingtargetedinitiatives. The determination of Ukrainian communities is to survive and rebuild, and that is remarkable. Teachers hold classes underground, doctors perform surgeries without power, and volunteers drive along roads that are potentially mined to deliver aid. Yet resilience is not protection; it cannot substitute for safety, dignity or compliance with international humanitarian law and international law. The Council and all members have a vital role to play in ensuring that international law is respected — a foundation of international peace and security. They also have a critical role in working towards an end to violence. Without it, human suffering and humanitarian needs will deepen. Humanitarian concerns must remain central to any future ceasefire or political process. The United Nations stands ready to make that happen.

I thank Ms. Wosornu for her briefing. I now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

I wish to thank Ms. Gotoh and Ms. Wosornu for their briefings and their contribution to the discussion. We are now deep into the fourth year of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine; the largest armed conflict Europe has seen since the Second World War and a conflict that has changed modern warfare, felt first and foremost by the civilians who bear the brunt of it. The latest overnight attack by Russia is a case in point. In one of the deadliest attacks against civilians since the war began, Russian missiles and drones With the winter approaching, Russia launched another campaign against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Strikes on the power grid are intensifying, causing blackouts nationwide. These attacks disrupt heat, electricity and water supply, creating extreme hardships, especially for older persons, persons with disabilities and families with young children. These are deliberate attacks against the most vulnerable members of society. There is a clear pattern in Russia’s drone warfare — no one is safe from attacks, not near the front line, not hundreds of kilometres away. Russia’s drones and missiles are the cause of more than half of the civilian casualties across Ukraine. Short- range drones have surpassed the impact of any other weapon type. They are killing and injuring civilians, striking homes and disrupting essential services. They are creating a coercive environment that has essentially become unliveable and has compelled thousands to flee. The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine in its latest report (A/80/497) concluded that these attacks constitute crimes against humanity of murder and the forcible transfer of a population. Russia is escalating its war against Ukraine. The numbers could not be clearer. As pointed out by our briefers, civilian casualties in Ukraine this year were 27 per cent higher compared to the same period last year. This clearly underlines the urgent need for a full and unconditional ceasefire. Fourteen of us keep calling for it, yet tangible results are lacking. Slovenia stands ready to work towards a just peace — one firmly rooted in the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. It must be a lasting peace for Ukraine, shaped by Ukraine. We need a decisive next step to end the bloodshed and stop the destruction. We need a ceasefire now.

Let me also thank Ms Gotoh and Ms Wosornu for their very clear briefings. Denmark welcomes the participation of Ukraine in today’s briefing and that of other affected European countries. The broader regional security situation remains alarming. Denmark is deeply concerned about Monday’s explosion on a railway line in Poland. This was an act of sabotage directed against the security of the Polish State and its citizens. Denmark stands in full solidarity with Poland. It is almost two months since the Security Council last discussed Ukraine (see S/PV.9990). Regrettably, Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s population and civilian infrastructure have continued unabated, as we heard clearly from our briefers. Ukraine again witnessed a deadly mass attack on its cities yesterday, with more than 500 drones and missiles fired in a single night. At least 25 civilians were killed and 66 injured when their residential block — their home — was hit. We condemn this attack, as we do all attacks against Ukraine’s civilians, and express our sincere condolences for the victims. The recent increase in attacks on Ukraine’s civilian energy infrastructure is deeply cynical, especially in the light of the approaching winter. Deliberately denying the civilian population the means to keep warm, cook, light up their homes and access clean drinking water represents a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. Another troubling development is the attacks on electricity substations and transmission lines connected to nuclear power plants in Ukraine. This recklessly threatens the safe operation of civilian nuclear energy facilities. As we prepare to mark the fortieth anniversary of the Chornobyl accident, we recall that this fallout did not respect national borders and affected hundreds of thousands of square kilometres. We call for an immediate halt to these attacks, which could lead to another nuclear accident, with disastrous consequences. On the human rights situation in the temporarily occupied territories, we recall the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine’s latest report (A/80/497). It documents serious crimes against humanity committed by Russia’s armed forces. These independent findings of the most severe violations of international law demand decisive action. Months ago, Ukraine offered an unconditional and comprehensive ceasefire. This genuine offer still stands. Russia, on the contrary, has only offered empty promises while continuing to attack Ukraine’s civilian population. We call on Russia to accept the offer of a ceasefire without delay. Denmark welcomes conversations about peace for Ukraine — peace talks that can lead to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. A lasting peace is, however, only possible if it is based on the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, in full respect of Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence. What is needed is a peace in which Ukrainians can live in security; a peace with credible security guarantees to ensure this war cannot restart in the near future; a peace that does not reward the aggressor, leaving other countries constantly wondering if they will be next. Let me conclude by reiterating Denmark’s steadfast support to Ukraine and by reaffirming our fundamental position: nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine; nothing about European security without Europe. Millions of Ukrainian men, women and children have suffered more than enough for far too long. They deserve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. A ceasefire remains the indispensable first step on this path.

First of all, I would like to thank Ms. Kayoko Gotoh, Officer-in-Charge of the Europe, Central Asia and Americas Division of the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, and Ms. Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, for their briefings. This is our Organization’s impartial view of an invasion that has lasted far too long. A ceasefire is needed. France calls on all members of the Council to unite around the call for a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire, which is also being requested by the Secretary-General of the United Nations. It calls on Russia to accept it and to engage in good faith in peace negotiations. The cessation of hostilities is a demand of the vast majority of the international community, as recently demonstrated by the official positions taken by the Group of Friends of Peace. Ukraine has repeatedly stated its willingness to agree to such a ceasefire, a principle it accepted in March when it was proposed by the United States. Ukraine has also signalled, for months, its readiness to engage in peace negotiations The reports that the Council has just heard remind us, if it were necessary, of the unacceptable humanitarian situation that Russia continues to impose on Ukrainian civilians, with 26 dead, including three children, and nearly a hundred civilians wounded, in the city of Ternopil alone, on the night of November 18 to 19. A few days earlier, residential neighbourhoods, a hospital and an embassy were hit in the capital, in violation of international humanitarian law and the Vienna Convention. Among civilians, Russia also targets journalists. On 3 October, French photojournalist Antoni Lallican was killed in a Russian drone strike while carrying out his work and while he was wearing a press vest that clearly identified him. As winter approaches, and as it has done every year since 2022, Russia is relentlessly targeting energy infrastructure. Following attacks against thermal power plants and gas storage facilities, even electrical substations connected to nuclear power plants are not spared from strikes, jeopardizing nuclear safety and security, as the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency has reiterated. By imposing long power outages, and sometimes interruptions of heating and running water supplies, Russia is once again seeking to break the resistance of the Ukrainian people. But the Ukrainian people are resisting. France unequivocally condemns Russia’s continued war of aggression against Ukraine, as well as the irresponsible incursions of Russian forces into the airspace of the European Union and NATO, and its serious acts of sabotage and destabilization in Europe. France reiterates its unwavering support for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, reaffirmed yesterday by the United Nations General Assembly. The visit of the Ukrainian President to Paris this week, which enabled the signing of a declaration of intent on the delivery of 100 Rafale fighter jets to Ukraine, shows that France, as are all its partners, remains committed to increasing its long-term support. We are working towards a just and lasting peace. That means a peace that does not involve the capitulation of Ukraine, that preserves Ukraine’s ability to exercise its right to self-defence and that prevents future aggression with full respect for Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty.

I also thank Ms. Kayoko Gotoh and Ms. Edem Wosornu for their pertinent briefings. Almost two months after our most recent meeting on Ukraine in this Chamber (see S/PV.10004), Russia has intensified its missile and drones strikes on Ukraine. Latest reports indicate direct targeting of residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure across the country, while Ukraine’s energy capabilities, with possible severe repercussions for nuclear safety, are being systematically destroyed. The numbers we just heard from our briefers tell of the plight of civilians in Ukraine, forced by Russia to survive another harsh winter in cold and darkness. For the fourth consecutive year, energy needs are weaponized, with the most vulnerable groups — women, children and elderly persons — bearing the brunt of the aggression. More than 3,000 children have been killed or injured in the course of this war. Today, on World Children’s Day, we cannot help but think of Once more, Greece reiterates its resolute condemnation of the massive civilian harm caused by such strikes, as a blatant violation of international humanitarian law. On this occasion, we would like to express our deep sorrow at yesterday’s horrendous massive air attacks, which targeted various Ukrainian cities and resulted in the death of 25 civilians, including three children. We also condemn all attacks against diplomatic missions, in violation of the Vienna Convention, and we echo the Secretary-General in recalling the principle of the inviolability of diplomatic premises. This war of aggression against Ukraine has broader repercussions for global peace and stability. The spillover effect of violence has affected Poland and other neighbouring countries and risks spiralling out of control. Russian attacks in the Black Sea endanger lives, pose immense environmental risks and have ripple effects on energy, food and maritime security, as well as on supply chains on a global scale. Greece has consistently backed all efforts to put an end to the war in Ukraine. We call on Russia to abandon the path of escalation and engage with the United States and Ukraine in good will. We stress the need for a full and unconditional ceasefire as a first step towards launching a genuine process that will ensure a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, in full compliance with international law, the United Nations Charter, relevant General Assembly resolutions and the Helsinki Final Act. This is clearly the urgent request of the vast majority of the United Nations membership. Greece reaffirms its firm and unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, within its internationally recognized borders, a principled stance rooted in respect for international law and the United Nations Charter, and consistent with the belief that the use of force cannot be tolerated. For Greece, the inviolability of borders is non- negotiable. Greece will continue to stand by Ukraine and, through the new Vertical Gas Corridor, will contribute decisively to meeting Ukraine’s natural gas needs for the upcoming winter. It is also clear that no decisions about peace that concern Ukraine can be taken without Ukraine. We will continue supporting an independent, democratic and sovereign future for Ukraine, founded on credible and robust security guarantees that will deter any recurrence of armed aggression and allow Ukraine to defend itself effectively.

We, too, would like to join colleagues in thanking Ms. Gotoh and Ms. Wosornu for their respective briefings. Pakistan expresses its profound concern about the continued hostilities, which are, in fact, perpetuating the conflict in Ukraine. Now well into its fourth year, the conflict has had a deep impact on the regional and international security landscape. The relentless fighting has also resulted in immense human suffering, and the risk of regional spillover remains a major concern. We are deeply perturbed by the expansion of hostilities, the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure and the exponentially mounting humanitarian toll. The protection of civilian lives and infrastructure should remain paramount. We reiterate the call for international humanitarian law to be upheld. Almost everyone has been saying for some time that there is no military solution to this conflict. Each day that fighting continues only deepens the wounds We deeply regret that the diplomatic momentum generated at the start of the year through the adoption of resolution 2774 (2025) — a resolution that perhaps could have been more effective, had it been endorsed unanimously — and followed by multiple rounds of dialogue between the two sides and continuing efforts, led by President Trump, to bring an end to this conflict, have yet to bear fruit. In this context, we welcome the renewed push for peace, including mediation efforts by Türkiye and Qatar. A solution that is acceptable to all parties can, in fact, silence the guns and ensure lasting peace. Mindful of the complex historical context and the intricate nature of this conflict, we believe that the path forward should be guided by wisdom and dialogue, rather than continued hostilities and an environment of confrontation. We therefore urge all parties to demonstrate political will and engage in a meaningful, structured and results-oriented dialogue that addresses the security concerns of all sides and, most importantly, is anchored in the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law and respects the relevant multilateral agreements. A ceasefire is the first logical and necessary step in this process. Pakistan is a firm believer in the power of dialogue and diplomacy and will continue to support all endeavours aimed at resolving the issue peacefully and in a just, comprehensive and durable manner.

I thank Ms. Gotoh and Ms. Wosornu for their briefings today, and I welcome the participation of the representative of Ukraine and the representatives of other countries of the region. Today, on World Children’s Day, we are reminded of the Ukrainian children who have become victims of Russia’s illegal invasion and imperialist warmongering. Of the nearly 53,000 civilian casualties verified as of the start of the full-scale invasion, more than 3,000 have been children. These figures do not include the attack two nights ago, which reportedly killed 26 additional people, including three children. Russia has destroyed 358 educational institutions through aerial bombardments and damaged a further 3,161. Just last month, as we have heard, Russian strikes hit a kindergarten in Kharkiv. These attacks are part of a larger pattern. Russia is ramping up its attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure, directly resulting in an even greater humanitarian crisis as winter sets in. Since May, Russia has launched the 32 largest air attacks of the entire war. The latest report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine (A/80/497) has concluded that Russia’s repeated attacks with short- range drones against civilians amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes. But aerial attacks are not the only threat that Ukrainian children face. The Russian Government has forcibly transferred children from their homes and communities. This is a naked attempt to erase Ukrainian identity and, with it, Ukraine’s future. Let us be clear: these actions are signs of desperation. Russia’s victory is not inevitable. It has been throwing everything at Ukraine but has made only minor territorial gains in the past four years. And Russia’s losses are unsustainable. More than 1 million soldiers have been killed or wounded. The cost of war is mounting for Russia. Military spending has increased to $159 billion this year, over a third of its total budget — money that could be spent on the well-being of Russian citizens. Yet while the rest of the world calls for a ceasefire, Russia refuses one. Since March, President Zelenskyy has been offering an unconditional ceasefire, but President Putin has repeatedly shown that he is not serious about ending this war. Everyone in the Chamber has taken on the responsibility to uphold international

We express our gratitude to the briefers for their comprehensive update. My delegation remains profoundly concerned about the continued deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in Ukraine. The latest developments, in particular the ongoing military action affecting civilian areas, underscore the urgency and complexity of this crisis. We are deeply troubled by the continuous escalation of attacks on civilians and essential civilian infrastructure. The protection of civilians, particularly the most vulnerable, and the preservation of critical infrastructure are non-negotiable obligations enshrined in international humanitarian law. We reiterate that all parties to the conflict must respect and uphold those principles without exception. Hospitals, power grids and homes must never be targeted. On this occasion, as the world observes World Children’s Day, marking the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, we voice our profound alarm regarding the adverse effects of this conflict on children. Protecting children must be paramount, and we urge all parties to the conflict to do so. We remain convinced that there can be no military solution to this protracted conflict. Continued hostilities only serve to prolong suffering and further dimin­ ish the prospects for a sustainable peace. Dialogue and diplomacy remain the sole means of bringing about an end to this conflict. We call upon all sides to exercise ut­ most restraint, de-escalate the fighting and commit to an immediate and comprehen­ sive ceasefire. A durable resolution must address the underlying root causes of the conflict and be consistent with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. We underscore that a just and lasting peace will necessitate compromise, confi­ dence-building measures and a genuine commitment to negotiation from all parties. In conclusion, my delegation reaffirms its unwavering support for all diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a resolution that restores peace, security and stability. As we have repeatedly said, the people of Ukraine and all those affected by this conflict deserve a future founded upon peace, security and dignity.

We appreciate the participation of Ms. Kayoko Gotoh of the Division for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, and that of Ms. Edem Wosornu, Director of the Crisis Response Division of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Both briefers provided valuable information about the situation on the ground. We take note of the presence of the representatives of those delegations that have honoured us with their participation. Based on the information presented by the briefers, Panama notes that the conflict in Ukraine continues on an unacceptable downward spiral of violence and remains on the Council’s agenda indefinitely, owing to the protracted nature of the conflict and its direct impact on the civilian population. In that regard, we reiterate that establishing a ceasefire and a cessation of hostilities, both of which have been deferred for far too long, is an urgent step towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, in line with the recent statements by Secretary-General António Guterres. Panama deplores the recent attacks, which have killed and injured dozens of civilians, compounded the suffering of the civilian population, especially that of the most vulnerable and children, whom we remember today, and has gravely affected essential infrastructure on both sides of the border. Faced with this situation, Panama reaffirms that the protection of civilians is an imperative obligation and urgently calls for safe and unconditional access to humanitarian assistance and workers. We recall that in February, the Council adopted resolution 2774 (2025), which implores All members of the international community must abide by Chapter VI of the Charter of the United Nations and refrain from taking actions that intensify the violence or fuel the conflict, such as providing weapons, financing or technology. Prolonging this conflict indefinitely is unacceptable. Both in this conflict and in others, it is important to restore to the civilian population, which has shown extraordinary resilience, trust that its authorities and Governments are consistently making honest and transparent use of resources for the population’s benefit, not to continue supporting a war that does not benefit them in any way. Under no circumstances should we return to an age in which the use of force governs international relations. Respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of States must prevail, in line with international law and the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.

I thank Director Kayoko Gotoh and Director Edem Wosornu for their briefings. At present, the Ukraine crisis continues to drag on, with ground combat operations still ongoing. Russia and Ukraine persist in launching attacks against each other, resulting in new civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure. As another winter is around the corner, people in the conflict zone face the double impact of warfare and bitter cold, creating a deeply concerning humanitarian situation. China once again calls on the parties to the conflict to exercise restraint, strictly comply with international humanitarian law and effectively protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. Dialogue and negotiations represent the only viable path to resolving the Ukraine crisis. We urge the parties to demonstrate political will and swiftly embark on the path of negotiated settlement. We call on the international community to scale up humanitarian assistance, actively promote peace talks and continue to create favourable conditions for a political solution to the crisis. Last year, China and Brazil, together with other countries from the global South, jointly promoted the establishment of the Group of Friends for Peace on the Ukraine Crisis. Recently, the Group held another ambassadorial-level meeting and issued a statement at a media stakeout, welcoming the recent engagements and talks held between the relevant parties and calling on all parties to seize the current opportunity and maintain the momentum of talks. The Group advocates for de-escalation and preventing the escalation of hostilities. All parties should refrain from actions that exacerbate the conflict, including the proliferation of weapons to the parties involved. The Group reaffirms that the shared goal must be to reach, through negotiation, a comprehensive, just and lasting solution, one that addresses the concerns of the parties to the conflict and acceptable to them. The Group stands ready to support the next steps by the parties to the conflict. The United Nations has a role to play in fostering diplomatic efforts and in the implementation of any peace agreement. The Group calls on all parties to strictly comply with international humanitarian law and support such humanitarian initiatives as the exchange of prisoners of war. The Group expresses deep concern about the negative impact of unilateral sanctions and stresses the importance of safeguarding countries’ right to conduct normal international trade and economic cooperation. China’s position on the Ukraine issue has been very clear and consistent. We have always followed the fundamental guidance of the four “shoulds” proposed by President Xi Jinping, actively engaging with all relevant parties, working tirelessly for peace and striving to promote negotiations. We stand ready to continue

I thank Ms. Gotoh and Ms. Wosornu for their briefings and welcome the participation of the representatives of Ukraine, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Sweden and the European Union in today’s meeting. My delegation had hoped that with the adoption of resolution 2774 (2025) in February, we would have seen an end to the conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. While we welcome the positive diplomatic efforts and initiatives undertaken over the past nine months, including those engagements that led to the exchange of prisoners, we regret that these efforts have not yet resulted in an end to the conflict. Instead, we continue to receive reports of escalating air strikes and a rising civilian death toll. We deplore the mounting civilian casualties resulting from recent long-range missile and drone strikes. The latest incident yesterday reportedly claimed the lives of 26 people and wounded many others, as we just heard from Ms. Gotoh. As we also heard this afternoon, there has been a barrage of strikes over the past two months on critical infrastructure, including the power grid in Ukraine. These attacks have led to daily power outages and, in some areas, have caused serious disruptions to heating and water supply. Residential neighbourhoods continue to come under attack, further contributing to the destruction and damage of more than 230,000 buildings since the conflict began, as reported by the International Organization for Migration. From all indications, the many calls by the Security Council and the United Nations for the parties to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law and the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution have gone unheeded. Instead, the attacks have become deadlier for civilians, with the human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine documenting a 27 per cent increase in civilian casualties compared to the same period last year. This situation is deplorable. Civilians are not collateral damage. They did not ask for this war and have little means of escaping it. Seven million are forced to live as refugees in foreign lands, while 4 million are internally displaced and forced to rely on humanitarian aid that is steadily declining owing to insufficient funding. These are not just numbers. They are human beings — their livelihoods upended; their futures put on pause. We have consistently called on the conflict parties to uphold their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and we do so again today. They must take constant care to spare civilians from harm and all precautions to minimize the incidental loss of civilian life, injury and damage. This is not just a legal obligation but a moral imperative. International humanitarian law also explicitly protects humanitarian workers during armed conflict against acts of violence, mistreatment, arbitrary detention and harassment. In this vein, Guyana strongly condemns the attacks against an inter-agency humanitarian convoy carrying aid in the Kherson region last month. Such attacks should never happen and must never go unpunished. We demand unimpeded access for humanitarian workers to all civilians in need. Much continues to be said about the ineffectiveness of the United Nations in stopping conflicts. However, it is important to recognize that the Organization’s effectiveness is intrinsically linked to the political will, matched with concrete actions, of its Member States. Without active engagement and genuine determination of members to uphold their responsibilities, the United Nations cannot fulfil its mandate to maintain international peace and security. We therefore urge the parties to the In closing, Guyana reiterates its call for full respect for the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. In this regard, we urge the Russian Federation to withdraw its military forces from the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine. We also echo the Secretary-General’s call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire as a first step towards a just, comprehensive and sustainable peace that upholds Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. We also continue to emphasize that a strong and coordinated effort must be made to end the hostilities, not only to uphold the principles of international humanitarian law but most importantly to protect the lives of civilians, who continue to suffer on the front lines and beyond. Their safety and well-being must be placed at the forefront of all actions and decisions taken in the pursuit of peace. A call for peace is always relevant, and the choice of peace is never too late. The time to answer that call and choose peace is now.

I also thank Director Gotoh and Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Director Wosornu for the timely briefings and welcome the representatives of Ukraine and other European countries. Nearly two months after our previous Security Council meeting on Ukraine (see S/PV.10004), we assemble here today once again, 1,364 days into this ongoing war. As Ukrainian families are now gearing up for a fourth consecutive winter of war, the full gravity of the conflict has continued unabated. And this is occurring despite the clear calls of the international community to end the fighting and forge durable peace to chart a brighter future for Ukraine, Russia and the region. Against this backdrop, I would like to expand on the following key points. First, the Republic of Korea is deeply concerned about the continuation of this war. The indiscriminate targeting of critical infrastructure remains alarming. Residential areas, energy sites, health and education facilities and even cultural locations are not spared, demonstrating the ferocity of this conflict. Attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure constitute violations of international humanitarian law. In this context, we deplore yesterday’s deadly attack on western Ukrainian cities, which killed 26 people, including 3 children, in Ternopil. Secondly, the mounting civilian suffering and tragic humanitarian toll further exemplify the imperative of ending the war and advancing peace. Indeed, the Republic of Korea underlines the vital necessity of pursuing expedient and concrete steps towards a full, immediate and unconditional cessation of all hostilities, in line with resolution 2774 (2025), to ensure lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine. We take this opportunity to commend the leadership of the United States in the pursuit of peace. My Government supports inclusive efforts and diplomatic initiatives to rekindle dialogue and end the war. In this connection, we encourage all parties to return to the negotiating table so that the killing and destruction stops, children can emerge from the bomb shelters and soldiers return home. Thirdly, my Government continues to be gravely concerned about the ongoing Russia-Democratic People’s Republic of Korea military cooperation, which includes illicit arms and ballistic missile transfers and mass troop deployments. Reportedly, this entails 5,000 new engineering troops from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, who have recently begun to be dispatched to Russia. These new arrivals join the roughly 10,000 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea soldiers deployed around the Russia-Ukraine border, alongside another 1,000 military engineers, who have been sent to remove landmines on the ground. This violates the Charter of the United As vulnerable communities prepare for a fourth dark winter under fire, let us reinvigorate our efforts to end this bloody chapter of war and start a new epoch of peace. We reiterate our principled call for a swift ceasefire and end to all hostilities.

I would like to thank our Western colleagues very warmly for convening this Security Council briefing on Ukraine. A huge corruption scandal has just erupted there, incriminating top officials of the Kyiv regime. This came as no surprise to us. At almost every meeting, we have told members that they are dealing with a thieving and corrupt pack profiting from war at their expense. It is not even something secret that incidentally came to light; it was so obvious that only a blind person could fail to notice it. Here, one is tempted to ask a question from a well-known skit familiar to Russians and Ukrainian audiences: “Where is the money?” The answer: “What money?” On 10 November, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine, following a series of searches, reported the uncovering of large-scale embezzlement at Energoatom, the operator of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. According to investigation reports, the organizer and main beneficiary of the illegal enrichment scheme was Tymur Mindich, Zelenskyy’s long-time associate. The Bureau alleged that, in just one year, members of the criminal network laundered approximately $100 million through kickbacks. The same corruption scheme also operated in the defence sector. The true scale of this scandal is something that we can only guess, but from what we hear, it is only the tip of the iceberg. Yet at today’s meeting, I have not heard anyone who called for our meeting say a word about it. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy continues to tour far and wide across Europe, begging for money and weapons to be spent for the benefit of himself and his entourage. But Europe has no money left for Ukraine. Europe needs to re-equip its own armies to prepare, as they hysterically clamour, for war with Russia by 2030. And where can they get money for Ukraine? Well, this money can be stolen. It can be stolen, for example, from Russia’s sovereign assets. But so far, that has not worked. They therefore whipped up anti-Russian hysteria to frighten and unnerve im­ pressionable Europeans, for example, by making allegations that Russian drones had entered European airspace. And the British Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey, dispatched British fighter jets and a frigate to monitor the Russian ocean­ ographic vessel Yantar. No sooner had the incident involving damage to railway tracks in Poland occurred — which, according to the Polish authorities themselves, was committed by two Ukrainian nationals — than Warsaw announced, without pre­ senting any evidence, that the trail led to Russia, because it was an act of State terror­ ism committed by Ukrainians allegedly working for Russian intelligence services. What really astounds us is how quickly the Polish authorities reached such conclu­ sions. After all, we remember well who was the first to express gratitude to the United States, to the Biden Administration, for the attack on the Nord Stream pipe­ lines — it was the current Minister for Foreign Affairs of Poland, Mr. Radosław Sikorski. Regarding the situation on the ground, the situation on the front for the Ukrainian army remains dire, if not catastrophic. Russian troops are advancing successfully on virtually all fronts. According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, over the past week, we have liberated a number of towns and villages in the Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, as well as in the Donetsk People’s Republic. Ukrainian military equipment, including Neptune missile launchers and United States-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems, has been systematically destroyed, along with the Ukrainian army’s command posts, fortifications, armoured vehicles, ammunition Ukrainian troops are stymied in major strategic hubs, such as Krasnoarmeisk, formerly Pokrovsk, and Dimitrov. Kupiansk has been liberated. Kyiv denies this in every possible way, calling it merely Russian propaganda. In late October, President Vladimir Putin proposed providing unhindered access to the area for foreign journalists, including Ukrainian journalists, so that they could see first-hand how the situation was unfolding. The Russian command was ready to suspend hostilities for five to six hours to create safe corridors for the press. However, Kyiv, of course, refused. Major Western media outlets and journalists’ associations also remained silent. Indeed, why would they want to know the truth that would dispel the myths about Ukraine’s invincible army, which Zelenskyy has disseminated so painstakingly in the West? The failures of Ukraine’s army are compounded by brutal actions against civilians remaining in contested cities. For Ukrainian nationalists, such civilians are the so-called “awaiters”, that is, those who want to stay and then come over to the Russian side. On 14 November, seven civilians were reported killed in the Donetsk People’s Republic by targeted Ukrainian drone and mortar attacks, while the group was trying to evacuate. The victims included a priest in the village of Oleksandro- Kalynove, his wife and a family of parishioners. They were methodically hunted down. Their fellow villagers were then prevented from collecting and burying the bodies because Ukrainian soldiers began to target those villagers with drones. The Ukrainian army is using civilians as human shields, placing command posts in private homes, deploying air defence systems in residential areas and conducting military operations in the centres of densely populated cities. These facts are now also confirmed by foreign journalists, who can hardly be suspected of being pro- Russian. But deliberate killing of individual civilians fleeing the combat zone is beyond evil, let alone humanitarian law. Between 20 October and 16 November, 307 Russian civilians were harmed by Ukrainian shelling, with 260 people wounded, including 20 minors, and 47 killed, including two children. In total, at least 13,900 rounds of ammunition were fired at civilian targets on Russian territory during this period. Villages in the Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk and Moskow regions were hit, as well as the cities of Saratov, Novorossiysk and Volgograd. However, the Secretary-General and his spokesperson show neither the courage to speak about this nor sympathy for the civilians who have been killed and injured. Instead, they readily “strongly condemn” any Russian strikes based on information, whether verified or not, provided to them by the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Mr. Matthias Schmale. We are not at war with Ukrainian civilians. Our armed forces are acting with the utmost responsibility, delivering high-precision strikes exclusively against military targets and the supporting transport and energy infrastructure in Ukraine. According to leaked military documents, the Ukrainian armed forces have lost more than 1.7 million servicemen since the start of the special military operation, with more than 600,000 lost this year alone, as of August. The huge irrecoverable losses among military personnel are indirectly confirmed by the body exchanges between Russia and Ukraine. When Russia hands over thousands of Ukrainian soldiers’ remains, it receives only 20 to 30 bodies in return. It is clear why Ukrainian troops under such conditions are fleeing the battlefield en masse. In October alone, a record 21,000 soldiers deserted, which is the equivalent of four brigades. To replenish the losses, Ukraine has been conducting a mobilization, which is compounded by unprecedented violence. Borders are closed, bank accounts are Despite the encirclement of a significant number of Ukrainian troops, massive losses, forced mobilization and threats to civilians, the head of the Kyiv regime forbids acknowledging the loss of cities, issues orders to hold positions to the last soldier and forbids retreat. This policy by the Ukrainian leadership has nothing to do with military reality; it is purely political in nature. Zelenskyy wants to show his Western sponsors that the front is holding, hoping for continued funding for his war with Russia. He needs billions of dollars to keep the war going for him and his cronies to line their pockets and stay in power. At the same time, Kyiv is crying out for a ceasefire. We also hear Zelenskyy’s European accomplices calling for the same thing. The price of these calls is very clear to us. They need what they call an immediate and urgent ceasefire only to ensure that Ukraine’s army, after suffering defeat after defeat, can have a long-awaited breather. As for the hypocritical appeals for peace from our former European partners, neither the Zelenskyy regime nor his mentors seek peace. Escalation serves their interests. Just last week, Ukraine’s first Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr. Kyslytsya, whom Council members know well, said outright that Kyiv had officially suspended peace talks with Moscow. In fact, it was back in the summer that the Ukrainian delegation stopped responding to Russia’s proposals, including those related to the establishment of working groups on political, humanitarian and military issues. As for the current statements made by Zelenskyy in Istanbul and European capitals, they are nothing but an attempt to divert attention from a monstrous corruption scandal. From day one, we have been clearly stating the goals of the special military operation: a non-aligned status for Ukraine, its denazification, an end to the persecution of all things Russian and respect for the rights of all citizens living there. However, we do not see any genuine desire on Kyiv’s part to sit down at the negotiating table to discuss key aspects of a settlement of the Ukrainian crisis. In conclusion, we would like to reiterate our objection, based on principle, to having so many delegations participating under rules 37 and 39 at today’s meeting. Apart from Ukraine, there are six such delegations today, and all of them are members or allies of NATO and the European Union. Guided by strict bloc discipline, they bring absolutely no added value to the discussion. Every time, these delegations waste the Council’s precious time by reading out essentially the same hackneyed mantras, which are practically identical to the statement of the representative of the European Union. We categorically reject turning Security Council meetings into talk shows for them to read from their playbook and brainwash their domestic audience. We believe that this approach undermines the Council’s credibility.

I thank Director Gotoh and Director Wosornu for their briefings today. We have yet another winter approaching, Ukraine’s fourth since Russia launched its invasion, and it is imperative to end this war and begin the process of rebuilding. Diplomacy is the only path to a durable and just peace. The United States has invested at the highest levels — the President of the United States, personally — to end this Unfortunately, the fighting continues, tragically causing more civilian casualties. We have now also seen incursions into the airspace of third countries, including of our NATO allies, actions that risk widening this conflict even further. Ukraine’s counterattacks, in turn, have hit Russia’s energy sector and other critical infrastructure, further constraining Russia’s ability to fuel its war economy. Russia has now suffered more than 1 million casualties. It has endured severe international sanctions. The bottom line is the cost to all sides have been devastating, and it is beyond time for this war to end. I would hope that we would all agree that this war will not end militarily. Russia’s and Ukraine’s leaders must negotiate. Both Russia and Ukraine must accept a ceasefire. Furthermore, from the standpoint of the international community, the United States has called on all countries, particularly those in Europe, to stop buying energy resources from Russia. We have imposed additional sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil. We did so on 22 October. We can impose further economic costs if Russia continues to ignore calls for a ceasefire. We will also continue to make weapons available for Ukraine’s defence. Finally, we cannot let this meeting pass without calling for the return of the kidnapped and missing children from Ukraine, for the resolution of that issue. Under President Trump’s leadership, the United States will continue to pursue a path to peace in Ukraine. We ask all United Nations Member States to join us in supporting these efforts, calling for a ceasefire and ending this war.

Allow me at the outset to thank Ms. Kayoko Gotoh and Ms. Edem Wosornu for their valuable briefings. The current developments in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict reflect yet another scenario of escalation, marked by ongoing military clashes that continue, day after day, to pose a grave threat to international peace and security. My country expresses its deep concern over the intensification of the conflict and the continuation of military attacks between the parties, particularly those involving the use of missiles and drones. We believe that prolonging this conflict will only lead to a deterioration of the humanitarian situation; more civilian casualties, including women, children and elderly persons; and devastating damage to essential infrastructure, especially as we approach the winter season. What is equally troubling is the continued mindset of escalation between the two parties, despite the initiatives towards mediation that we have seen, that were designed to mitigate the conflict, bring positions closer together and achieve progress in the search for a peaceful political solution acceptable to both sides, thereby putting an end to this war. In this regard, my delegation wishes to emphasize the following points. First, Algeria reiterates its call for a definitive end to hostilities between the two parties. Once again, we condemn the violations of international law and urge both sides to abide by its rules, including the provisions of international humanitarian law, to reduce the deterioration of the humanitarian situation and to ensure the protection of innocent civilians and vital civilian infrastructures. Secondly, my country urges both Russia and Ukraine to embrace the spirit of dialogue and negotiation as a matter of the utmost priority and as an effective and Thirdly, Algeria encourages both parties to renew their constructive engagement, in good faith, through direct negotiations, and to intensify diplomatic efforts to revive the track towards peace to end the conflict in a continuous and sustainable manner. In this context, we call for a strengthening of consultations to resume prisoner exchanges and the release of detainees, with a view to fostering consensus-building efforts and paving the way for recognizing the value of joint action to resolve this conflict. Fourthly, we also renew our call on the international community to contribute constructively, away from polarization and geopolitical rivalries, in order to reduce divergences between the two parties and avoid military escalation in order to facilitate opportunities for a settlement and a fair and lasting solution between the two parties. In conclusion, Algeria remains committed to supporting all international efforts to achieve a just and lasting political solution, one that is grounded in the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and that takes into account the legitimate security concerns of both parties.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone notes the imperative of lasting peace and stability in Ukraine and the wider European region. This meeting must, therefore, support the path to peace, through dialogue. I thank Officer-in-Charge Kayoko Gotoh and Director Edem Wosornu for their briefings. As the Russian-Ukraine conflict enters its 1,365th day, the civilian population continues to suffer. The United Nations human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine has reported that civilian casualties from January to October 2025 have been significantly higher than in the same period last year. With at least 14,500 civilians killed in Ukraine since February 2022, it is way past time for the conflicting parties to engage in diplomatic dialogue, seek a cessation of hostilities and work towards a political solution to end the conflict. As we have heard from our briefers today, the intensified use of long-range missiles and drones in heavily populated areas of Ukraine continues to result in fatalities and injuries among civilians, including children. The drone attack on a kindergarten in Kharkiv last month, which resulted in one death and more than nine injuries — and we can only hope that the innocent children, who had to be evacuated to shelters, can recover — is emblematic of the dire impact of this conflict. The horrors of war faced by millions of children in Ukraine and in Russia should serve as an impetus for the conflicting parties to respond to the continuous call by the members of the Council for an immediate ceasefire and a lasting peace through dialogue. Sierra Leone is particularly concerned that, as fighting continues for a fourth winter of sub-zero temperatures, the people of Ukraine face a heightened risk of death and suffering. The deliberate targeting of energy infrastructure in this conflict has resulted in widespread destruction of the country’s power grid, which is reportedly operating at a third of its generation and transmission capacity. Increased power outages and prolonged disruption of heating, electricity and water supplies further endanger the lives of the elderly, the disabled and millions of displaced persons, deepening the humanitarian crisis. Attacks and damage to energy facilities have further disrupted learning for the millions of children in Ukraine who are enrolled in online learning. The targeted attacks on civilian and civilian infrastructure that have characterized this conflict Noting the warning from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and other humanitarian organizations that this coming winter will be particularly difficult for people in Ukraine, who are faced with soaring prices, job losses and little or no income and savings in a wartime economy, Sierra Leone calls for urgent and increased support for the humanitarian response plan, including the winterization aid plans, which provide cash assistance, food, water, medicine and essential winter supplies to millions of people. The Security Council must ensure the implementation of resolution 2774 (2025). After almost four years of fighting, it is clear that this conflict will not address the legitimate concerns of the parties without negotiations. We therefore reiterate our call for the parties to the conflict to engage in good-faith diplomatic dialogue towards an immediate cessation of hostilities and a ceasefire as the first step to an agreement for lasting peace in line with Article 33 of the Charter of the United Nations. We reiterate our call for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine to be respected and the legitimate concerns of all parties to be addressed. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I give the floor to the representative of Ukraine.

I wish to thank the Sierra Leonean presidency for convening today’s meeting. We are also grateful to the briefers, Ms. Kayoko Gotoh from the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Ms. Edem Wosornu from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, for their comprehensive and principled presentations. I thank Council members for their decisive, strong statements, despite the propaganda, manipulation and lies that come from behind the nameplate of the Russian Federation. Since the Council last met on Ukraine in September (see S/PV.10004), the security situation in my country has worsened dramatically. As we heard from the briefers, the Russian Federation has unleashed an even more brutal campaign of terror against civilians through relentless daily missile and drone attacks. Yesterday marked yet another dark chapter in this war — one that will forever stand as a testament to Russia’s vicious brutality and disregard for human life. Russian drones and missiles deliberately targeted residential buildings — the very place where people should feel safest. This latest strike involved 48 missiles — an enormous barrage — and 476 attack drones. In the city of Ternopil, a deliberate direct hit by a Russian missile destroyed a nine-storey residential building. This is what Russian attacks on military objects mean. As of this morning, 28 people, including three children, have been confirmed killed and 94 injured, including 18 children. Sixteen people remain missing. This is the reality Ukraine is forced to confront every single day: attacks against children, women and elderly people, families in their homes, patients in their hospitals and teachers and students in schools; deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure, energy facilities and power grids; and deliberate attacks on dozens of cities, hundreds of towns and thousands of villages, which have been razed to the ground, with millions of people left without heat, light or water during the harsh winter season. Russia’s relentless escalation is not only a military assault but also a blatant renunciation of peace itself. Every missile it launches is a statement that Moscow prefers escalation to dialogue. From the very first seconds of Russia’s invasion, Ukraine has sought peace, and we support all substantive proposals capable of bringing genuine peace closer. Since the beginning of this year, Ukraine has supported President Trump’s proposals aimed at ending the war. We are ready, as before, to work constructively with the American side and with our partners in Europe and around the world so that peace is the outcome. Ukraine has officially received a draft plan from the American side. We outlined the fundamental principles that matter to our people. We agreed to work on the plan’s provisions in a way that would bring about a just end to the war. In this context, allow me to make several critical points. First, while Ukraine stands ready to engage in meaningful negotiations to end this war, including at the highest level, our red lines are clear and unwavering. There will never be any recognition — formal or otherwise — of Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation as being Russian. Our land is not for sale. Ukraine will not accept any limits on its right to self-defence or on the size and capabilities of our armed forces. Nor will we tolerate any infringement of our sovereignty, including our sovereign right to choose the alliances we want to join. Any genuine peace process must respect a fundamental principle: nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, and nothing about Europe without Europe. And let me be equally clear: we will not reward the genocidal intent that underpins Russian aggression and entails undermining our identity, including our language. Secondly, support for Ukraine is indispensable. Peace requires strengthened security and sustained financial assistance to Ukraine. Reinforcing Ukraine’s defence capabilities is not an escalation. It is the only path to compelling Russia to engage constructively in international peace efforts. In this regard, we express profound gratitude to all partners and allies. This support is an investment in the rules-based international order and global peace. Thirdly, the Kremlin regime will not stop unless it is stopped through unyielding and concerted pressure. There is only one realistic path to ending this war: Russia must be compelled to retreat economically, politically and militarily. If we fail to stop Russia now, its aggression will not end with Ukraine. It will continue to export war, occupation and repression. It will commit more atrocities, torture, inhuman treatment of civilians and prisoners of war, widespread sexual violence, the abduction of children, the destruction of cultural heritage and environmental devastation. Europe has lived through this before, and we must not dare forget those lessons. History will be a merciless judge if Russia is eventually rewarded for its war of aggression instead of held accountable. Fourthly, regarding the end of the war and the role of the Council, Ukraine has repeatedly called on the Council to adopt a resolution demanding a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire. Our people deserve to feel free and protected. A ceasefire is an essential prerequisite for meaningful negotiations. It is the first step towards halting Russia’s war of aggression and creating space for diplomacy. We reiterate our call on the Council members to adopt a resolution demanding a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire. That is why Ukraine has presented to Member States a draft General Assembly resolution entitled “Return of Ukrainian children” (draft resolution A/ES-11/L.16/ Rev.1). Its message is clear and simple and contains three key elements: the Russian Federation must ensure the immediate, safe and unconditional return of all Ukrainian forcibly transferred or deported children; the Russian Federation must cease, without delay, any further practices of forcible transfer, deportation, separation from families, change of personal status, including citizenship or adoption, and indoctrination of Ukrainian children; and the Secretary-General is requested to exercise his good offices and take all necessary steps to facilitate the return of Ukrainian children. The vote on the draft resolution will take place in early December, and we call on all Member States to support this concrete humanitarian initiative.

I now give the floor to the representative of Lithuania.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia and my own country, Lithuania. We also align ourselves with the statement to be delivered on behalf of the European Union. I sincerely thank the United Nations briefers for their substantive briefings. We are shocked by yet another drone and missile attack on Ukraine yesterday. Russia fired 476 drones and 48 missiles, which killed 25 people in an apartment building in the city of Ternopil, with about 80 others wounded. We reiterate our full support and gratitude to the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Mr. Matthias Schmale, and his team, as well as United Nations agencies providing humanitarian assistance across Ukraine in that extremely dangerous environment. The Baltic States strongly condemn Russia’s continuous daily attacks on Ukraine. Striking and killing civilians, bombing hospitals, schools and kindergartens, targeting energy infrastructure and triggering more power outages across the country — those are blunt violations of international law. The human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine has verified that, in October, at least 148 civilians were killed and 929 injured. The casualty rates continued to increase by 27 per cent in the period until November compared to last year. This reflects a sharp escalation in violence against civilians and critical civilian infrastructure and is especially worrisome with the upcoming winter. Such attacks constitute war crimes and deprive civilians of elementary humanitarian needs and fundamental rights. For four years now, Russia has continued its terror against civilians. The most recent report by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine states that Russian authorities have systematically coordinated actions to drive out Ukrainian civilians from their homes in the occupied territories (see A/80/497). The Baltic States continue to be particularly alarmed by the continuous forcible transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia and Belarus. We therefore firmly support Ukraine’s draft resolution addressing the situation of Ukrainian children and the urgent need to ensure their safe return (A/ES-11/L.16/Rev.1). We are equally alarmed by the horrendous treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war, amid consistent reports of torture, ill-treatment and summary executions. Such treatment is a war crime and must be prosecuted accordingly. We are also concerned by the growing number of uses of ammunition containing hazardous chemicals against Ukrainian military personnel, in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Moreover, the attacks on the substations of the nuclear power plants show blatant disregard for nuclear safety and security in Ukraine. In October, owing to Russian strikes, all of Ukraine’s operating nuclear power plants had to revert to emergency generators. Russia systematically destroys Ukrainian energy infrastructure with the aim of creating unbearable living conditions for the civilian population, particularly during the harsh winter season. We call on Member States and United Nations institutions to continue their assistance for the maintenance of the critical energy infrastructure of Ukraine. The Baltic States will continue to support Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, including by supplying the necessary equipment. Russia’s aggression is no longer confined to Ukraine’s borders and is spilling across Europe. Russian nationals, shadow fleet operators and other agents are conducting sabotage and engaging in clandestine activities. We recall the recent Council meetings on drones in Poland and fighter planes in Estonia. On behalf of my own country, I would like to reiterate the persistent and provocative actions of Russia’s ally, Belarus, as I have recently written about in a letter informing the Council (S/2025/731). The Baltic States call on the Council members to condemn the ongoing hybrid operations by Russia and its supporter Belarus, as that may lead to further escalation. Those irresponsible and dangerous actions must cease immediately. For months, Russia has rejected all calls by the international community to stop its war. Nine months ago, the Security Council, including Russia, adopted a resolution calling for a swift end to the conflict and urging a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia (resolution 2774 (2025)). Already in March, Ukraine committed to an immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire. Russia is the only obstacle to peace in Ukraine. Russia can end the war now, by stopping its military actions and participating in meaningful negotiations. We reiterate our support for the efforts of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, and his call to begin direct negotiations to end Russia’s war once and for all. The Baltic States call on Russia to stop the war immediately, agree to a ceasefire and start meaningful negotiations. We urge all United Nations Member States to increase pressure on Russia by strengthening sanctions and by providing greater political, military and humanitarian support to Ukraine. The Baltic States reaffirm our strong commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and we will continue to provide Ukraine with lasting support to achieve an immediate, comprehensive, just and sustainable peace, in full compliance with international law, including the Charter of the United Nations.

I now give the floor to the representative of Poland.

Let me thank Sierra Leone for convening this meeting and our briefers for their updates and informative presentations. We are witnessing heavy strikes in front-line locations, attacks on residential areas, the destruction of critical infrastructure, the torture and killing of detainees, and continued deportations of Ukrainian children. As we all heard today in the interventions, at least 25 people were killed yesterday, including three children, in a missile and drone attack on the city of Ternopil. Russia carried out this attack against civilian apartment blocks. They directed missiles and drones into people’s homes. Two months ago, the Council met at the request of my country following Russia’s violation of Polish airspace with its drones (see S/PV.10004). Now we are facing another major escalation, of which I would like the Council to be rightly informed, in the face of Russian disinformation. On 15 and 16 November, two acts of diversion targeting Polish railway infrastructure occurred, including the blowing up of a section of track on the Warsaw-Lublin route, which is crucially important for the delivery of aid, including United Nations assistance, to Ukraine. According to the investigation, these were intentional actions aimed at causing a railway disaster. Many people’s lives were put at risk. These were the most serious acts of sabotage against Poland since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine. Fortunately, a tragedy was averted, but another line was crossed. These actions are evidence of how Russia is spreading its aggression to other countries in the region. Two saboteurs were promptly identified as individuals bearing Ukrainian passports, but one of them was sentenced in May by a Ukrainian court for an act of sabotage committed on behalf of the Russian security services. The other one was of Donbas origin. Both fled from Ukraine to Belarus, where they also went after committing the sabotage operation in Poland. As predicted, the incidents are being followed by Russian propaganda and disinformation — conduct we witness all too often in the Chamber, and again today. Russian media is attempting to portray the sabotage as a Ukrainian provocation. We are closely monitoring the information sphere and Russia’s attempts to inflict damage there, as well to sow division within our society. All this is happening in defiance of diplomatic initiatives, especially those led by the United States and President Trump, despite the will of the international community, repeatedly expressed here at the United Nations. Russia has consistently chosen war over peace, destruction over building and death over life. For the self- interested elites in the Kremlin, the massive loss of life, even among Russian soldiers, and the deepening economic crisis at home are of no importance. Moscow shows no interest in halting its unprovoked aggression against Ukraine and even rejects a ceasefire. We will, however, continue to support a just peace in Ukraine — one that is acceptable and supported by Ukraine as the victim of aggression, and in accordance with the principles of international law. We must hold Russia accountable for its actions and deter future wars in our region and beyond. Ukraine’s reconstruction will remain our high priority. Poland will host the Ukraine Recovery Conference in 2026, aiming to strengthen the coordination of reconstruction efforts and mobilize the support of all international partners in order to accelerate Ukraine’s recovery and modernization. Poland will also continue to support the provision of military assistance to Ukraine, as well as economic sanctions against Russia in order to curb its ability to fuel the war. We call on all peace-loving countries to join in those efforts. The The alternative is very grim: the Kremlin’s imperialist, neocolonial demands would, in fact, deprive Ukraine of its sovereignty and re-establish its spheres of influence. We reject the very idea of such spheres. We cannot allow the aggressor to intimidate the international community. In this conflict, there is only one sole aggressor — the Russian Federation.

I now give the floor to Mr. Lambrinidis. Mr. Lambrinidis: I thank the presidency for convening this meeting, and I thank the briefers for their updates. In the two months since the Council last convened to address Russia’s aggression against Ukraine (see S/PV.10004), the aggressor State has further increased the intensity of its missile and drone strikes, once again ignoring the calls of Council members. It does not care. In fact, it has increased its systematic targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure, in clear violation of international law. On Tuesday, Russian attacks reportedly killed at least 25 people, including children, in two residential areas in Ternopil. Earlier this week, we learned of an unprecedented act of sabotage involving the blowing up a railway track in Poland. This incident directly concerns the security of a European Union member State and that of its civilians. The threats to our security are real and growing. After investigation, the sabotage was attributed to individuals previously accused of cooperating with Russia. Russia continues to demonstrate what we have repeatedly warned about in the Chamber: not only that it lacks any real political will to end its aggression and engage in meaningful peace negotiations, but fundamentally, that the only real root cause of this war is its desire to recolonize by force — 34 years after it regained its independence — a sovereign and independent member of the United Nations. The United Nations, in case anyone forgot, was created to promote decolonization, not recolonization. Russia may want us to forget this, but we will not do so. While Russia cynically attacks Ukraine’s energy sector ahead of a harsh winter, the call for an immediate, full, and unconditional ceasefire grows even louder. Ukraine demonstrated its readiness months ago. The Secretary-General reiterated his call yesterday, after yet another brutal overnight barrage, when he called for a ceasefire, “as a first step towards a just, comprehensive and sustainable peace that fully upholds Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, in line with the United Nations Charter, international law and relevant United Nations resolutions”. All members of the Security Council repeated this call today — all except one, Russia. We also welcome recent statements to this end by many countries from around the world. A ceasefire is a first and necessary step towards a just and lasting peace. Today, we therefore once again echo this message to Russia: stop the killing and join Ukraine at the negotiating table. There is a shocking truth about this war: according to credible reports, more than 1 million Russian soldiers have been killed or injured trying to conquer Ukraine. On many days, more than 1,000 young Russian men and women perish on a battlefield far from their homes. Over three years into what it had planned to be — remember — a three-day war, Russia continues to be countered by the brave Ukrainian soldiers, day after day. When the European Union calls to increase pressure on Russia, it is not to prolong the war, but to push for peace, to create incentives for Russia to stop its systematic attacks, which, by the way, include violations of European airspace, and to genuinely sit down for talks. Remember: Russia, too, committed to this by voting in favour of the resolution known as “the path to peace” (resolution 2774 (2025)) in February. But then again, Russia may feel little compulsion to comply with Security Council resolutions or any other United Nations resolutions if third countries, and actors and entities therein, continue enabling Russia’s war of aggression. We condemn again the continued military support provided by Iran, Belarus and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and we urge all countries, including the members of the Council, to immediately cease any direct or indirect assistance to Russia in its war of aggression. We call on Russia and Belarus to immediately ensure the safe return to Ukraine of all Ukrainian children unlawfully transferred and deported to Russia and Belarus. We fully support Ukraine’s initiative to seize the General Assembly of the immediate need to return the Ukrainian children (draft resolution A/ES-11/L.16/Rev.1). The international community must do everything in its power to take concrete measures that facilitate their safe return. In conclusion, I reaffirm our continued and unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. It may be an obvious point, but it is one worth repeating, in case Russia hopes that the blatant violation of the Charter of the United Nations by a permanent member of the Security Council can be normalized, so long as it continues unabated and so long as the aggression gets worse.

I now give the floor to the representative of Germany.

I thank the briefers for their insightful remarks at the beginning, and I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for holding this timely debate. It is timely because it is essential that we speak about the continued erosion of the fundamental norms and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations that Russia causes. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine should be seen for what it is: an assault on these basic tenants of peaceful coexistence. And the incessant and ongoing attacks affect key principles that form the basis of our cooperation in these halls, and they pose a threat to regional security, as well as to global peace and stability. It therefore necessitates a collective and decisive response by Member States. I would like to make the following three points. First, it is rare that in a conflict, a war, one party is so clearly responsible for its start and for its continuation. Russia deems the fighting and killing more advantageous to its plans of territorial conquest than peace. Ukraine, on the other hand, has reiterated time and again that it is willing to negotiate in good faith to find a peaceful solution. At the onset of winter, Russia is deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure in Ukraine with rocket and drone strikes, as we have heard. Such attacks are coldly calculated to demoralize the civilian population and in clear breach of international humanitarian law. The entire population — families, the elderly and children — is suffering. The privilege of permanent Security Council membership entails a special duty to uphold the Charter of the United Nations. Thirdly, a call for an immediate, unconditional and comprehensive ceasefire should be a step which we can all support. It would at once reduce the prolonged and unnecessary suffering of the civilian population, because, as the war grinds on, the harmful impacts of the conflict continue to extend beyond Ukraine. That is evident in the countless violations of European airspace, as well as most recently in the acts of sabotage against Polish rail infrastructure. We will not rest until a sustainable and just peace is achieved, a peace that is rooted in the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and negotiated with Ukraine at the table. We need an unconditional ceasefire now to stop the bloodshed and lay the foundation of trust for sincere negotiations. The people of Ukraine have the right to live in peace and security, and Germany continues to support Ukraine in exercising its legitimate right to self-defense.

I now give the floor to the representative of Romania.

Since the Council addressed last September the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine (see S/PV.10004), Russia has pursued a path of further escalation, increasing the intensity of its missiles and drone strikes. We are appalled by Russia’s recent attacks on residential areas in Ternopil, one of the deadliest attacks against civilians so far, following previous waves of large-scale missile and drone strikes on several Ukrainian regions that brought death and grieving to civilians. Russia intentionally targeted critical energy infrastructure. Attacks against civilians and infrastructure violate international humanitarian law. Such attacks, strongly condemned by the Secretary-General, are unacceptable and must stop. We reiterate our support and solidarity with Ukraine. The aggressor must not be rewarded with impunity. Accountability is needed more than ever. As the country with the longest border Ukraine has with a friendly neighbour, we are concerned about Russia’s irresponsible behaviour, as it continues to attack Ukrainian civilian infrastructure also in the vicinity of Romania. During the night of 10 to 11 November, an unmanned aerial vehicle of the Russian military forces violated yet again the Romanian airspace. The fragments recovered by the Romanian authorities from the crash sites of the aircraft undoubtedly prove its affiliation and involvement in the massive attack that same night against Ukrainian civilian infrastructure located in the vicinity of Romania. The most recent violation of our airspace took place yesterday, 19 November. Following another Russian attack on the Danube port infrastructure of Ukraine on the night of 16 to 17 November, a liquefied natural gas vessel took fire in the Ukrainian port of Izmail on the Danube just across the border with Romania. In the light of the increased risk of a potential explosion, the Romanian authorities took the extraordinary measure of temporarily evacuating two nearby villages to ensure the safety of their inhabitants. Russia is a permanent member of this body and is expected to be a guarantor of international law in the Charter of the United Nations, and such actions are It is imperative to exert massive pressure to stop this unprovoked war. Romania will fully implement the United States and international sanctions imposed on Lukoil. At the same time, the violation of European Union restrictive measures is now a crime and can be punished with imprisonment, according to a draft law adopted by the Romanian Government in the past few days. Our long-standing position since day one of the invasion of Ukraine is clear: the achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace needs to be in line with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. We simply cannot reward an aggressor, which has a historical record of relapsing in breaching international law. We reiterate our continued support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, as well as for its legitimate right to self-defence under the United Nations Charter. A full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire remains necessary as a first step towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. And just to echo the points made by the United States Secretary of State today, it is high time “for an extensive exchange of serious and realistic ideas”.

I now give the floor to the representative of Sweden.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and my own country, Sweden. We thank the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for their briefings, and we commend the bravery and professionalism of all humanitarian workers. We meet in the wake of renewed, large-scale Russian attacks against civilians and civilian objects in Ukraine. The recent drone and missile barrage against Ternopil, Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk claimed at least 25 civilian lives, left hundreds injured and caused extensive electricity blackouts. This is no coincidence. As we approach the fourth winter of Russia’s full-scale invasion, we are once again witnessing Russia’s deliberate targeting of residential areas and energy infrastructure across Ukraine. In addition, Russia continues its attacks on humanitarian personnel. On 14 October, four clearly marked United Nations trucks were struck by Russian drones as they delivered aid to Kherson. The United Nations has confirmed this attack. The purpose of Russia’s recurring assaults is clear: to destabilize, to deepen the humanitarian suffering and to erode the resilience of the Ukrainian people. In essence, it is a systematic strategy of terror against civilians, aimed at fulfilling Russia’s political objective: the subjugation of Ukraine and/or the annexation of its sovereign territory. However, as in previous years, Russia will fail. We remain in awe of Ukraine’s resilience. On 21 October, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine released another report on Russia’s continued violations of international humanitarian law. The report concludes that Russia’s targeted drone strikes against civilians form part of a coordinated policy that not only constitutes war crimes but, even more gravely, amounts to the crimes against humanity of murder and the forcible transfer of population. We cannot allow these attacks to be met with impunity. There must be accountability for the crimes committed against and within Ukraine. Appeasement, or a lack of action, would only embolden the aggressor and risk sowing instability elsewhere. We urge Russia to immediately cease its aggression and to comply with international humanitarian law. Russia must protect civilians and humanitarian workers and return the forcibly transferred and unlawfully deported children, and it must accept that Ukraine, as any other country, has the sovereign right to choose its own future. To sum up. Russia’s actions demonstrate a clear lack of genuine intent to pursue peace. We must remember that this is a Russian war of choice. If President Putin so wished, he could cease the aggression and end the war tomorrow.