S/PV.10057 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of Estonia, Moldova, Norway, Poland, Romania 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, Director for Europe and Central Asia and Officer-in-Charge for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations; Ms. Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator; and Ambassador Tomaž Lovrenčič, Director of ITF Enhancing Human Security. 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: As the holiday season approaches, Ukrainian civilians are preparing to end yet another difficult year at war, without a ceasefire and with uncertain prospects for lasting peace. Despite cautious optimism around resumed diplomatic efforts, 2025 has been one of the deadliest years for the people of Ukraine. Civilian casualties between January and November this year were 24 per cent higher compared to the same period in 2024. These figures continue to increase as the Russian Federation escalates its aerial attacks across Ukraine. On the night of 5 to 6 December, dozens of civilians were injured and hundreds of thousands left without power and basic utilities following large-scale Russian missile and drone strikes targeting energy and transport infrastructure in 10 regions across Ukraine. The night before, a 12-year-old boy was killed in a drone attack on a village in the Dnipropetrovsk region. A week earlier, on 29 November, a massive Russian drone and missile attack reportedly killed six people and injured dozens of others in the Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Kherson regions. This attack also left more than 600,000 people in the Kyiv region without power, in freezing winter temperatures. On 23 November, a drone strike on Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, reportedly killed four people. In total, since the start of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has verified that 14,775 Ukrainian civilians, including 755 children, have been killed, and 39,322 more, including 2,416 children, have been injured. These numbers only represent the verified casualties; the actual figures are likely significantly higher. The Russian Federation continues to target Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure. Systematic attacks on energy infrastructure in the middle of winter threaten to leave millions without reliable heating, water and public transportation as temperatures drop. People in high-rise buildings cannot use elevators, which leaves the elderly and persons with disabilities trapped in their homes. This year alone, more than 340 educational facilities in Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed, depriving children of their right to education. Local authorities from the front-line communities of the Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson and Sumy regions reported that access to essential services had collapsed: food shops and pharmacies are closed, medical personnel have left, At the same time, local authorities from communities across the border in the Russian Federation also continue to report new civilian casualties from regular attacks launched by the Ukrainian armed forces. Damage to civilian infrastructure is also reported as a result of long-distance Ukrainian strikes on military and energy sites in the Russian Federation. Owing to a lack of access and limited public information, the United Nations is not in a position to verify these reports. As has been stressed at all our briefings, I reiterate that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including energy infrastructure, are prohibited under international law. No matter where they occur, they are unacceptable and must stop. My colleague from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs will share more information about the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and the United Nations response through the winter. The United Nations has repeatedly warned against any action that could further escalate or expand this devastating war, now well into its fourth year. Following repeated alleged violations of the airspace of several European countries, we are following, with concern, the recent reported incidents involving shipping and port infrastructure in the Black Sea. On 5 December, Bulgarian authorities launched efforts to evacuate the crew of an oil tanker that caught fire off the Black Sea port of Ahtopol. This was one of the two Russian tankers reportedly hit on 29 November by Ukrainian naval drones in the Turkish economic zone. Earlier, in a separate incident on 2 December, another Russian-flagged tanker, on its way from Russia to Georgia, allegedly came under a drone attack off the Turkish coast. There have also been reported Russian attacks on port infrastructure in the Ukrainian port of Odesa, as well as alleged Ukrainian attacks on the Azov Sea port of Temryuk in Russia’s Krasnodar region. While no casualties were reported, these incidents represent yet another step in the current dangerous cycle of escalation. We continue to urge all parties concerned to de-escalate tensions and to prevent the risk of further expansion of the conflict. This certainly also applies to the immense danger the war poses to nuclear sites. Despite the efforts by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to restore power lines at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the plant continues to experience dangerous power interruptions as a result of ongoing attacks in its vicinity, including, most recently, during the Russian attacks on 5 and 6 December. The IAEA has also conducted a comprehensive safety assessment of the New Safe Confinement structure at the Chornobyl site, which was severely damaged in a drone strike in February. According to the assessment, the Confinement had lost its primary safety functions, including the confinement capability. However, no permanent damage to its load-bearing structures or monitoring systems was found. Any military actions endangering the safety and security of nuclear plants are unconscionable and irresponsible and must immediately cease. We remain deeply concerned about systematic violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the areas of Ukraine occupied by the Russian Federation, as reported by OHCHR. These violations undermine the principles of international humanitarian law established to safeguard human dignity and the protection of civilians. We recall the international obligations with regard to the treatment of prisoners of war, including access to information regarding their places of detention. We are encouraged by the earlier exchanges of prisoners of war between Ukraine and the Russian Federation and urge their continuation, as well as scaled-up returns of Ukrainian Since the beginning of the full-scale war nearly four years ago, the people of Ukraine have not only shown remarkable resilience to endure the horrible consequences of the war, but also determination to build a peaceful, democratic and prosperous future for their country. We have seen this consistently in the action of Ukrainian civil society, in particular through organizations led by women and young people. The people of Ukraine want a just and lasting peace. Meeting their aspirations and ensuring the long- term stability of the region must remain our collective focus and priority. That is why we remain hopeful that the ongoing diplomatic efforts, led by the United States, can help bring this war to a negotiated end. The Secretary-General has repeatedly called for a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire. Immediate de-escalation in fighting, including a halt to ongoing attacks on critical civilian infrastructure, would not only spare civilian lives, but also bring added momentum to ongoing diplomatic efforts. We urge all stakeholders to actively engage in and support an inclusive diplomatic process in pursuit of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace. Achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in Ukraine requires that any resolution thereof fully uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders and be in line with the Charter of the United Nations, international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions. The United Nations remains ready to support all meaningful efforts to that end.

I thank Ms. Gotoh for her briefing. Inow give the floor to Ms. Msuya. Ms. Msuya: I am grateful for the opportunity to brief the Council again on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. In the two and a half weeks since our most recent update (see S/PV.10050), intense missile and drone attacks across Ukraine have continued to exact a worrisome toll on civilians. These strikes, many conducted at night, during freezing temperatures, continue to kill and injure civilians, sever essential services and undermine the lifelines that civilians rely on. Allow me to share what that means on the ground in humanitarian terms. In recent days, strikes have hit critical energy infrastructure in Kharkiv, Odesa and the Dnipro region. Repair teams cannot keep pace with the damage. In several oblasts, rolling blackouts of 12–18 hours are cutting heat and water to entire apartment blocks. In Odesa, a missile strike last week destroyed a sub-station supplying power to several neighbourhoods, including a displacement centre. Attacks last week also hit residential buildings in Kharkiv, Sumy and Zaporizhzhia, killing and injuring civilians, including children, continuing the patterns documented in our previous briefings. Across Donetsk and Kharkiv Oblasts, authorities and humanitarian partners have accelerated voluntary evacuations from communities where repeated shelling has made it impossible to guarantee even minimal services. In areas around Pokrovsk — already highlighted in our November briefing—winter has compounded needs. Older people, people with disabilities and families with young children are increasingly seeking evacuation after days without heat, clean water or stable power. Some communities are facing sub-zero temperatures in damp shelters, many of which were damaged from previous strikes. In Lyman, where roughly 3,000 civilians were already out of reach of regular assistance, attacks have further restricted movement. Local volunteers told us last week that families are rationing humanitarian supplies. Energy infrastructure has been targeted in Ukraine and the Russian Federation, and In Kherson, a strike last week damaged a heating plant serving thousands of residents. A doctor from the nearby clinic shared with our team: “People can survive without electricity for a time, but not without heat. Without heat, our elderly patients decline within hours.” The World Health Organization has verified hundreds of attacks on healthcare this year — attacks that kill, injure and cripple health services when illnesses, hypothermia risks and trauma cases surge. International humanitarian law is unequivocal: civilians and civilian objects, wherever they are, must be protected, and constant care must be taken to spare them. Indiscriminate attacks, including attacks that cause disproportionate incidental death or injury to civilians or damage to civilian objects, are strictly prohibited. As the twenty-second meeting of States Parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention concluded last week, it is timely to renew the Organization’s grave concern over States’ intentions to withdraw from this treaty and the disturbing retreat from international humanitarian law this represents. Anti-personnel landmines protect no one. Humanitarian partners continue to deliver assistance whenever and wherever access allows. Over recent weeks, winter clothing, blankets and thermal supplies have been pre-positioned in front-line oblasts, and community points have been established to provide civilians with access to heat, electricity and basic services during outages. Collective centres have been expanded for families arriving through evacuation corridors. Mobile health teams are travelling to areas experiencing prolonged outages. Inter-agency convoys continue to deliver food, water purification tablets, medical supplies and shelter materials. So far this year, 44 convoys have reached 50,000 civilians in the hardest-to-reach communities along the front line. But access to some front-line areas remains extremely challenging. Active hostilities, damaged roads and security restrictions regularly delay or suspend humanitarian operations. Humanitarian personnel face rising dangers. In December, so far, one aid worker was injured in Kherson region, with eight cases of damage to humanitarian offices, assets and aid distribution sites, according to the access monitoring and reporting framework of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. As noted in our most recent briefing, a clearly marked United Nations convoy in Kherson was struck in October while attempting to deliver aid — underscoring growing dangers to aid workers. International humanitarian law also demands that humanitarian personnel and assets be protected. Engaging in dialogue with the relevant parties is essential to ensure that they do not recur. Beyond these challenges, significant portions of the country remain out of humanitarian reach. While the United Nations does not have humanitarian operations in parts of Ukraine under occupation by the Russian Federation, our position is clear: we stand ready to deliver assistance to all civilians in need wherever they are, prioritizing solely on the basis of humanitarian need. As winter deepens and access tightens, our ability to respond hinges on timely and sufficient funding. Yet funding shortfalls continue to constrain winter operations. Only 65 per cent of the $279 million required for the winter response plan has been received, forcing cuts to the very services — cash assistance, heating support, mental healthcare and protection for women and girls — that are most critical in winter. The Global Humanitarian Overview 2026, released yesterday, underscores the scale of these needs: 10.8 million people need assistance in 2026, and $2.3 billion is needed to target 4.1 million of them. The regional refugee response also remains Today the humanitarian consequences are clear: attacks harming energy systems are pushing cities towards blackout, strikes in residential areas are uprooting families mid-winter, and humanitarian access constraints are depriving the most vulnerable where suffering is highest. I urge the members of the Council to use the tools at their disposal: their voice, their influence and their unity, where possible, to ensure three things. First, they must ensure that the rules of war are upheld — in practice, not only in principle — to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. Members’ collective influence on the protection of civilians carries weight. Secondly, and equally a matter of compliance with the rules of war, members must ensure that safe, unimpeded humanitarian access to civilians in need be facilitated. When assistance is endangered, blocked or delayed, the consequences are immediate and severe. Thirdly, they must ensure that humanitarian action is funded in line with the scale of need. Member State decisions will determine whether families face this winter with or without heat, medical care and shelter. The people of Ukraine do not have the privilege of waiting for better conditions. They are enduring a fourth winter since the escalation of this war, under fire and in the dark. What they need from the Council is not only sympathy but concrete action to reduce harm and safeguard the humanitarian action that stands between survival and catastrophe. The actions of Council members in the coming weeks will influence whether this winter becomes another chapter of avoidable suffering or a moment when the Council helped prevent it.

I now give the floor to Ambassador Lovrenčič. Mr. Lovrenčič: Allow me to express my sincere appreciation to the Slovenian presidency for placing today’s discussion on the agenda. I address you as the Director of ITF Enhancing Human Security, a humanitarian organization established by the Government of Slovenia that has worked for nearly three decades in conflict-affected countries to clear mines, assist victims and help communities recover. Today, however, I speak as an eyewitness to the ongoing tragedy unfolding in Ukraine. Just a few weeks ago, I visited Ukraine, together with Dr. Aleš Musar, spouse of the President of Slovenia. During this visit, I sat with victims of mines and explosive remnants of war — men, women and children whose lives were irreversibly changed in a single, devastating moment, after the Russian aggression. Their injuries were among the most severe I have seen in my career. Many had lost one, and some both legs. Others bore terrible wounds across their bodies, including devastating trauma to the head and face. ITF has worked in numerous war-affected countries and has helped thousands of survivors receive prosthetics and psychosocial support. Yet what I witnessed in Ukraine marks a grim new chapter in the evolution of mine injuries. Because of the changing nature of the war, the pattern of injuries is also changing. In the past, most This shift has catastrophic humanitarian consequences. Drone-delivered explosives strike the upper body, causing brutal injuries to the arms, hands, face and head. And let me be very clear: the loss of a hand or an arm is often even harder to overcome than the loss of a leg. A prosthetic leg restores mobility; a prosthetic arm must replace fingers — one of the most complex tools of human life. Without hands, a survivor cannot dress independently, cannot prepare food, cannot perform basic daily tasks and cannot even manage the most intimate aspects of their life without assistance. We often believe that mine warfare cannot sink lower. Yet in Ukraine, it has. Drone- delivered explosives are more indiscriminate, more dehumanizing and more lethal. They cause injuries that are harder to treat, harder to rehabilitate and harder for survivors — and their families — to endure physically, psychologically and socially. This must matter to the Council, not only because of the enormous scale of suffering but also because the situation in Ukraine is a warning. If the international community does not mobilize now, this minefield in the sky risks becoming a horrifying standard in future conflicts. For this reason, I appeal to the Council and the international community for three urgent steps: first, sustained and increased support for humanitarian demining, including the development and deployment of new technologies and accelerated clearance operations; secondly, extended support for victim assistance — not as an afterthought, but as an essential pillar of humanitarian response; and thirdly, continued insistence, based on international humanitarian law, that weapons causing indiscriminate and disproportionate harm to civilians must stop. Protecting civilians is not optional; it is a legal and moral obligation. What the Ukrainian people are suffering today might turn against all of us, if we do not take action. Upper-body injuries bring a new, sad dynamic to this war on Ukraine. We are now witnessing a dramatic increase in civilians suffering devastating trauma to their arms, hands and heads. The scale is alarming. Today, in addition to tens of thousands of amputees, there are already tens of thousands of newly deaf people as a direct result of blast injuries to the head and ears. Thousands more now require prosthetic arms and hands — complex and expensive medical devices that are essential for regaining independence. This represents not only a profound humanitarian challenge, but a tragic testimony to the cruelty of this aggression and to the depth of suffering endured by victims and their families. This is the new horror of war. I therefore appeal to the Council to do everything in its power to stop this war. If that cannot be achieved immediately, then it must at least act to limit harm from the air. The emergence of minefields in the sky must not be allowed to take root. If it is not stopped, hundreds or even thousands of civilians, including women and children, will continue to be subjected to lifelong suffering. What we see today in Ukraine may tragically be repeated elsewhere tomorrow against all of us. In conclusion, helping mine victims costs money. We are deeply grateful to all donor countries. In the case of ITF, its projects in Ukraine are supported by Slovenia, the Republic of Korea and the United States of America — although the number of donors remains too small for the magnitude of the needs. Greater burden-sharing is needed, and I call on all countries to join the effort now. A prosthesis is not a simple technical device that replaces a missing limb. A high-quality prosthetic arm is a pathway back to normal life — a step towards I therefore call on all countries to support prosthetics in Ukraine at the highest possible standard, guided by humanity, solidarity, dignity and justice. We have a chance to help the people of Ukraine now, at the moment when they need it most. Let us seize this opportunity, and let history record that, when confronted with extraordinary human suffering, we chose not caution or prudence, but humanity and solidarity at its fullest.

I thank Ambassador Lovrenčič for his briefing. I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia. At the outset, I thank the briefers for the valuable information they provided and for setting the tone for this discussion. It will soon be four years since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine — almost four years since it started an open war of aggression against its sovereign and significantly smaller neighbour; four years of open and repeated violation of international law; four years of devastation, of shattered lives and dreams and lost livelihoods; and four years of destruction of schools, hospitals and homes. These are not mere words, but harsh realities created by Russia’s war. A month ago, I was on a field trip to several regions in Ukraine. I have seen these horrors first-hand. I witnessed a generation of young people whose lives will be forever marked by this invasion. I have seen children being raised in an environment where shelters and air-raid alarms are part of daily life. Yet, in spite of the ongoing war, they continue to demonstrate resilience that deserves recognition and support. But more than that, they deserve to live in peace. This is not the first time the Security Council has found itself facing a protracted conflict. However, we cannot leave and allow the value of human lives to decrease with each anniversary of the war. We object to Russia’s escalation of the war while peace talks are under way. Russia continues to escalate its war. Swarms of drones are growing larger; ballistic missiles are flying farther and farther away from the front line; and we have even seen airspaces of other countries violated. On the receiving end of all this are civilians; violence against them is visibly on the rise. In 2025, the number of civilian casualties rose by more than a quarter, compared to last year. As winter sets in, the weakest parts of society continue to bear the brunt of the war. Civilians are in dire need of an end to hostilities, and it is our responsibility to respond to a dire situation on the ground. We have reliable data provided to us by the briefers. We have trustworthy information from the United Nations presence in the country. As Council members, we must speak against blatant violations of international humanitarian law. We must speak against abductions and forcible transfers of children, condemn territorial conquests and denounce the erosion of the foundations of this very Organization. This war needs to end. As a first step, both sides should urgently agree to a full and unconditional ceasefire. Fourteen members of the Council keep demanding it. Ukraine agreed to it months ago. We reiterate our call on Russia to do the same. Only with an end to the fighting can meaningful peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine take place. Only then can a just peace be achieved — a peace firmly rooted in the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, a lasting peace for Ukraine, shaped by Ukraine. Until then, Slovenia will continue to stand by Ukraine and will keep calling for peace and demanding respect for international law, across the board, by everyone, I now resume my functions as President of the Council.

Let me also thank the briefers for sharing their insights. Before addressing the latest wave of Russian attacks on Ukraine, as described by our briefers, let me first reaffirm several fundamental principles that we believe must define a viable path to peace in Ukraine. First, Denmark calls for an immediate ceasefire. It is the only credible first step towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in line with international law, including the Charter of the United Nations. A ceasefire could allow for much- needed trust-building between the parties while lending hope for an urgently needed break from war for the civilian population. Secondly, Ukraine needs credible and robust security guarantees. Ukrainians must be able to live with confidence that the nightmare they are currently enduring will not repeat itself. Thirdly, there can be nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine. This peace has to be driven for and with Ukraine. Of course, the region also has to be involved. When European security is on the table, Europe has to be at the table. Denmark appreciates the efforts of the United States to bring peace to Ukraine and fully supports all efforts to reach a peace agreement in Ukraine based on these principles — principles that uphold Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as enshrined in the United Nations Charter. It is often claimed in the Chamber that Europe is prolonging the conflict by supporting the defence of Ukraine. That is not the case. We support Ukraine because its people are dying at the hands of their much larger neighbour in its aspiration to change borders with brute force. For the sake of Ukraine and for the sake of European and international peace and security, we cannot allow Russia to benefit from such deplorable actions. Turning to the developments on the ground, our briefers have been clear. Russia’s attacks have continued unchecked and unabated. At this critical moment, the international community must stand with Ukraine. The country has entered its fourth winter since the launch of Russia’s full-scale invasion. With months of freezing temperatures ahead, Russia is intensifying its attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure. Such attacks are a clear violation of international humanitarian law. As we heard this morning, Russian bombs keep falling over cities and civilian infrastructure, destroying access to electricity, heating and clean drinking water. While the world calls for peace, Ukraine is experiencing massive air strikes and power outages for hours on end, every single day. Last week, the General Assembly adopted a resolution condemning Russia’s illegal abduction of Ukrainian children in the temporarily occupied territories (General Assembly resolution ES-11/9). We reaffirm that condemnation today. It was a relief to learn that seven children were recently reunited with their families in Ukraine. We stress that all children must be reunited with their families immediately and without conditions. Children should never be subject to such inhumane treatment, nor should they be used as political bargaining chips. We call for all perpetrators to be held accountable. Russia’s actions leave us no doubt that it is not serious about peace. While Ukraine agreed to a ceasefire long ago, Russia continues to dismiss any such calls and persistently reiterates unacceptable demands. Just last week, President Putin confirmed that Russia will seize the Donbas region by any means. Let us be clear. Russia is seeking the capitulation of Ukraine.

Panama thanks Ms. Kayoko Gotoh, Director for Europe and Central Asia and Officer-in-Charge for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations; Ms. Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator; and His Excellency Mr. Tomaž Lovrenčič, Director of ITF Enhancing Human Security, for their valuable briefings. We take note of the presence of the representatives of the delegations who honour us with their participation. We meet once again to analyse the consequences of the war in Ukraine. As we approach the fourth year of hostilities, Panama reiterates its concern for the civilian population, which continues to suffer disproportionately under daily drone and missile attacks. For this reason, a cessation of hostilities and attacks on civilian areas is urgent. We have reiterated this call on several occasions in the Chamber, yet it has been met with indifference to international law and international humanitarian law, as well as an evident disregard for the fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations. Moreover, prolonging this war erodes the legitimacy of the fundamental purpose of the Organization, created precisely to prevent humankind from suffering from the scourge of war. Honouring the principles of the Charter obliges us to redouble our efforts through actions that promote the restoration of international peace and security in Europe and to restore hope for peaceful coexistence between Russians and Ukrainians. The fractures in international security resulting from this conflict undermine the trust of the international community, threaten the future of entire generations and condemn them to endure the trauma of a war that, with political will, could be brought to an immediate end. Panama renews its call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and for the opening of genuine dialogue by those who bear the responsibility to bring this war to an end, with the firm conviction that only thus can we safeguard the principles that underpin peaceful coexistence among nations and the rules-based international order. We acknowledge diplomatic efforts aimed at reaching a peace agreement. It is essential to promote a constructive process that rebuilds trust between the parties and lays the foundations for stability. This path requires mutual respect, guided by a shared will to build a lasting peace. History teaches us that peace has always been possible when there has been the will to achieve it. The suffering we witness among brotherly peoples is not the result of an inevitable destiny, but of human decisions. Bringing this war to an end requires will, readiness, coherence and courage. Panama urges all actors involved to prioritize respect for life over geopolitics and to demonstrate that dialogue can prevail over force.

I thank the briefers for their input. In the course of another winter, the scourge of this illegal war of aggression is ravaging Ukraine. The calls of the overwhelming majority of the Council for an immediate ceasefire remain unheeded by Russia, as our briefers’ accounts have made clear. Since our most recent meeting on this issue (see S/PV.10050), almost 20 days ago, Russian attacks have intensified and civilian casualties have numbered in the thousands, following strikes on residential buildings and other civilian facilities in densely populated areas. Amid plunging temperatures, Russia continues its strikes targeting critical energy infrastructure, causing widespread blackouts and leaving homes without the essentials for survival. Such actions constitute clear violations of international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes. Children are also of major concern. They, in particular, should be protected, as the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol recognize them as uniquely vulnerable victims. In this regard, we welcome the adoption of the General Assembly Despite the fact that they are soon to enter the fifth year of the war, Ukraine and its people persevere. They are defending their freedom and independence with courage, conviction and resilience. The Council and the Organization should not fail them. In that respect, Greece welcomes the progress on the peace plan made at the Geneva and Florida meetings between the delegations of the United States and Ukraine. We reiterate that there can be no agreement about Ukraine and Europe without Ukraine and Europe. We also call on Russia to engage in good faith and abandon its maximalist demands. Greece will always side with international law, the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity enshrined therein. We unequivocally reject any change of borders as a result of the use of force. There can be no recognition of borders changed by force. That would constitute a blatant violation of international law and set a dangerous precedent. This principled stance guides our position on the war of aggression against Ukraine, along with our strong belief that the guns should be silenced for the voice of peace to be heard. In this respect, Greece joins the call of the wider United Nations membership in support of a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire as the primary goal and the first step of a process leading to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. Lastly, we reiterate that Ukraine must have the final word about its future — one that is equipped with credible security guarantees.

I thank Ms. Gotoh, Assistant Secretary-General Msuya and Director Lovrenčič for their timely briefings and welcome the representatives of Ukraine and other European countries. Once again, we were reminded today by the briefers that the freezing winter and freezing conditions themselves are being weaponized, along with deeply concerning and escalating deadly attacks on power and heating supplies. This is unleashing painful repercussions on long-suffering communities. Regrettably, such attacks are occurring despite the vocal calls from the international community, including the Council, for a swift end to the ongoing fighting and a lasting peace agreement. In the light of the foregoing, I would like to expand on the following points. First, the Republic of Korea reiterates its call for all the relevant parties to immediately halt attacks on energy infrastructure and civilian population centres. Such attacks, carried out with massive drone and missile swarms and continuing on a near- daily basis, are why the United Nations is warning of a catastrophe within a catastrophe. These attacks constitute a clear violation of international humanitarian law, as articulated in Article 54 of Protocol I Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949, as they target civilian infrastructure indispensable to the survival of the civilian population. Civilians should not be targeted and must be protected in accordance with international humanitarian law. This situation should not persist any further. Secondly, even if the humanitarian situation were to improve, we emphasize that without an end to the war, any such improvement would be merely temporary. In this connection, the Republic of Korea is supportive of ongoing efforts by the United States leadership to advance dialogue with a view to pursuing rapid and tangible steps Thirdly, we cannot overlook the fact that one of the key obstacles to ending this war is the military cooperation between Russia and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, which includes illicit arms and ballistic missile transfers and troop deployments. This cooperation continues to prolong the conflict and facilitate its progression towards becoming global in scope, in a manner that is both dangerous and unpredictable. This is in clear violation of international law, including the Charter of the United Nations and multiple Council resolutions, and undermines the global non-proliferation regime. My Government once again strongly urges Russia and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to immediately cease their unlawful military cooperation. We must not allow the people of Ukraine to endure yet another harsh winter, and we must collectively reinvigorate all efforts for peace. For its part, the Republic of Korea reaffirms its full commitment to ending this war and standing with the Ukrainian people as they rebuild their country and forge a brighter, more secure future.

I welcome Your Excellency Ms. Tanja Fajon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, as you preside over today’s meeting. I thank the briefers for their presentations. The Ukraine issue has now entered a critical phase towards a negotiated settlement. Discussions at the international level are increasingly converging on negotiations and are moving closer to peace. Major stakeholders have put forward a number of proposals for peace talks and have engaged on several occasions. China welcomes such progress, supports all efforts leading towards peace and hopes that the international community will work together for a prompt political settlement of the crisis. First, joint efforts must be made to advance peace talks, which cannot happen overnight. China has noted that the relevant parties have recently put forward their positions and concerns about key issues. We call on the parties concerned to seize the positive momentum, move towards rapprochement, demonstrate political will and continue to build consensus to strive for a fair, lasting and binding peace agreement as soon as possible. Secondly, collective action is required for the protection of civilians. Despite resounding calls for peace, hostilities on the ground remain unabated, leading to a series of fresh casualties and damage to, and destruction of, infrastructure, which are profoundly worrisome. China urges the parties to the conflict to exercise maximum restraint, comply rigorously with international humanitarian law and effectively ensure the safety of civilians and civilian infrastructure. We call on the international community to step up humanitarian assistance to help the affected population endure and overcome their hardship. Thirdly, united efforts are needed to create a European security architecture. Although the parties concerned had concluded the Minsk agreement and the Minsk II agreement, the Ukraine crisis eventually erupted, the underlying reason being the failure to properly address their respective security concerns and tackle the root causes of the conflict. Any new peace agreement must draw on this lesson. China calls on all parties to uphold the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, bear in mind the principle of indivisible security, and take seriously and properly address their respective legitimate security concerns, especially the root causes of the conflict, to establish a balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture. to a peaceful resolution of the crisis should be supported. China has stayed in close contact with all parties concerned, including Russia and Ukraine, and actively engaged in shuttle diplomacy. China, alongside Brazil and others, launched the Group of Friends for Peace on the Ukraine Crisis, working unwaveringly to amplify calls for peace and foster consensus for peace. China will continue to play a constructive role in advancing a political resolution of the crisis.

I thank Ms. Gotoh, Assistant Secretary-General Msuya and Ambassador Lovrenčič for their briefings. Regrettably, the conflict in Ukraine, continues to rage, upending the lives and livelihoods of millions over the course of the past almost four years. Pakistan has consistently expressed its profound concern about the impact that the conflict has had on regional and international security and the resulting immense human suffering. We are deeply perturbed by the continued fighting and targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure. As we have said in the past, the protection of civilian lives and infrastructure is a legal obligation and should remain paramount. We reiterate our call for all sides to uphold the principles of international humanitarian law, including with regard to the protection of humanitarian aid workers. Pakistan remains an ardent supporter of the peaceful resolution of the conflict. We have always advocated for an early cessation of hostilities, de-escalation and a sustained and meaningful dialogue that addresses the legitimate security concerns of all sides to bring this protracted conflict to an end. We welcome the renewed momentum towards peace and diplomatic engagements, led by the United States. We call upon the parties to exercise restraint, demonstrate political will and earnestly engage with a view to making meaningful strides towards a mutually acceptable settlement. A solution acceptable to all relevant parties, grounded in the Charter of the United Nations, international law and relevant multilateral agreements, is essential to achieve durable and lasting peace. Towards this end, we hope that all sides will be guided by sagacity, mutual understanding and, above all, the imperative of saving millions from further suffering. In conclusion, Pakistan stands ready to support all endeavours aimed at resolving the issue peacefully and in a just, comprehensive and durable manner.

I thank you, Madam President Fajon, for chairing this important meeting today. I would also like to thank our three briefers. Ending the Russia-Ukraine war remains a top priority for President Trump. Under his leadership, the United States is working at all levels to urgently end hostilities through a permanent ceasefire and a negotiated settlement. The United States is engaged in tireless shuttle diplomacy to try and bridge the divide between Moscow and Kyiv. We also want to move the parties towards a negotiated set of terms for a ceasefire. These discussions are complex and difficult, but, thankfully, they are ongoing. Both sides will need to make difficult choices to end the war. Our goal is an end to the war and a mutually agreed peace deal that leaves Ukraine sovereign and independent and with an opportunity for real prosperity. It remains critical to keep an international focus, and the Council must continue to focus on the war. The United States will follow President Trump’s leadership towards I call on Moscow and Kyiv to likewise follow President Trump’s lead and stop the senseless loss of life. The death toll and the scale of destruction in both Ukraine and Russia only continue to grow. The rising humanitarian cost of this war, particularly for women and children, is unacceptable, and it will ripple through the region for decades. Meanwhile, as the winter continues to grow colder and darker, strikes in populated areas and against Ukraine’s energy grid continue, leaving millions without heat and power. The killing must stop. Both sides must choose peace. As we move into 2026, we report there is an ongoing and productive dialogue but let us not miss this opportunity to secure a just and sustainable peace.

I thank Ms. Kayoko Gotoh and Ms. Joyce Msuya for their briefings. I listened carefully to the remarks of Ambassador Tomaž Lovrenčič. Algeria remains concerned about the ongoing conflict around Ukraine, and the repeated military attacks, which affect peace and security in the region. The conflict continues to impact the humanitarian situation, causing further loss of civilian lives and the destruction of critical civilian infrastructure. This is especially relevant in this winter period, when civilians, particularly women and children, face increased suffering from severe weather conditions. Moreover, this conflict continues to have significant consequences, particularly for developing countries, which are dealing with an unprecedented energy and food security crisis. In this context, I would like to emphasize the following points. First, Algeria reaffirms the urgency of stopping the hostilities and ending the conflict. We also reaffirm the paramount need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure by fully respecting international law, including international humanitarian law. Equally crucial is facilitating humanitarian assistance without discrimination and ensuring that it reaches all those in need. Secondly, we reiterate our call on both parties to prioritize dialogue and negotiations, with the aim of advancing direct peace talks by intensifying diplomatic efforts and avoiding any actions that could lead to confrontation or escalation. Thirdly, establishing the conditions for an inclusive and comprehensive dialogue remains key to promoting a peaceful settlement of the conflict. We believe that polarization leads only to further prolonging and deepening the conflict, which carries numerous regional and international consequences. We therefore emphasize the need to reinforce all international efforts aimed at fostering convergence, facilitating coordination and bridging divergent positions among the parties. In conclusion, Algeria reiterates its call for renewed engagement of the parties to achieve a just and lasting peace, based on the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and taking into consideration their legitimate security concerns.

Guyana thanks Ms. Gotoh and Assistant Secretary- General Msuya for their briefings and welcomes the contribution of Ambassador Lovrenčič. We also welcome the participation of Ukraine, Poland, Norway, Romania, Estonia, Moldova and the European Union in the meeting. Today’s meeting comes at a critical time, as we are witnessing a notable increase in diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the nearly four years of active conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine — a conflict that has been marked by violation after violation of international law from its inception and continues to have a devastating toll on the lives of civilians in both countries. As always, civilians continue to bear the heaviest brunt as the death toll climbs, and there is mounting displacement and the destruction of their homes and communities. Guyana continues to underscore that civilians are not collateral damage. Every life taken in the course of this war is one life too many. We call on the parties to take meaningful action to halt further violations, uphold their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and take constant care to spare civilians from harm. Moreover, we call upon the parties to the conflict to cease hostilities on humanitarian grounds as the peace talks continue and to foster a conducive environment for the ongoing negotiations towards a definitive ceasefire. We urge the international community to support this call, recognizing that genuine progress towards peace is difficult to achieve under the current circumstances. The only viable path towards resolving the conflict peacefully lies in sustained dialogue, genuine engagement, a steadfast commitment to a diplomatic solution and firm adherence to established international norms. As the peace talks continue, we hope that they will lay the foundation for a future marked by stability and security for both Ukraine and the Russian Federation. The outcomes of these discussions must therefore be rooted in the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, including sovereignty and territorial integrity. We take positive note of the recent comments indicating that some aspects of the peace negotiations have been both substantive and constructive. We hope that this spirit of cooperation and constructive engagement will endure, paving the way for a lasting and comprehensive end to the conflict.

First, allow me to welcome you to New York, Madam President, and to assure you of France’s support as Slovenia assumes the presidency of the Security Council. I also thank Ms. Kayoko Gotoh, Officer-in-Charge from the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs; Ms. Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs; and Mr. Tomaž Lovrenčič for their insightful briefings on a situation that unfortunately continues to worsen. As we speak, the United States and Ukraine, in coordination with the Europeans, are stepping up diplomatic efforts to seek a lasting solution to put an end to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. At this same moment, Moscow is intensifying its offensive. Moscow is pushing against the front lines to annex more Ukrainian territory. Moscow is intensifying its massive and deliberate attacks against the people of Ukraine, against its energy infrastructure, against its railways and ports, in violation of international humanitarian law. The Ukrainian people are preparing to face their fifth consecutive winter under Russian bombs, deprived of heating and electricity. However, as Russia is unable to break Ukraine’s resistance, it continues to play for time. President Putin makes no secret of this when he speaks about “liberating territories by force of arms” if “the Ukrainian army does not withdraw”, and let us recall that we are talking about territories taken from Ukraine by force and illegally occupied and illegally annexed to this day. He is clearly not seeking peace today; he is seeking the defeat and subjugation of Ukraine. Russia is thereby locking itself into military This call for a ceasefire and de-escalation is more relevant than ever. Russia must at last engage in the negotiations in good faith, starting by silencing the guns instead of resorting to delaying tactics that only prolong the war and ultimately deceive no one. These negotiations must continue, taking into account the interests of the parties most affected — nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, and nothing about the security of Europeans without the Europeans. France is playing its part in the peace efforts. It is working alongside Ukraine, its European partners and the United States to build the security guarantees that are essential for a just and lasting peace. This peace cannot involve the capitulation of the victim of the aggression. It must preserve Ukraine’s sovereignty and its ability to exercise its right to self-defence and prevent any further aggression. This was the purpose of yesterday’s meeting in London between the leaders of France, Germany and the United Kingdom and the Ukrainian Head of State and the meeting of the coalition of the willing held in the presence of the United States and Ukraine on 25 November. In the coming days, we will continue to coordinate closely with all our partners in this regard and will continue to work with them to redouble our efforts to compel Russia to make peace. France reiterates its unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. Beyond European security and global stability, what is at stake is the preservation of the fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations. France and its partners will continue to support Ukraine in the long term and to work tirelessly for lasting peace.

I thank Ms. Kayoko Gotoh and Assistant Secretary- General Joyce Msuya for their informative briefings. I also thank Ambassador Tomaž Lovrenčič for his contribution. One thousand three hundred eighty-four days into this conflict, the civilian population continues to bear the brunt of ground and aerial attacks in Ukraine. We therefore urge the parties to prioritize dialogue and engage in good-faith diplomatic negotiations in pursuit of a ceasefire leading to a lasting peace agreement and just peace. As the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine deepens with the advent of a fourth severe winter, Sierra Leone reinforces the imperative for the immediate cessation of hostilities. In view of the foregoing, we will make three points. First, it is imperative that direct talks between the parties be held at the highest political levels to address the possibility of an immediate, unconditional ceasefire as the starting point for a just and lasting peace. For the better part of 2025, the United States has led diplomatic efforts between the two parties for a ceasefire agreement. We welcome these efforts and note the progress made towards the release and exchange of prisoners of war and civilian detainees and the return of Ukrainian children. These steps and the fact that both parties continue to stay engaged in diplomatic processes at various levels are all positive indications that there are opportunities at this moment in time for good-faith negotiations on a ceasefire. These critical ongoing talks ultimately require participation from the highest political offices of both the Russian Federation and Ukraine. In this regard, we reiterate our support for a diplomatic solution in full respect of the Charter of the United Nations, especially the principles of sovereignty, independence and the territorial integrity of States, in this context, Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders. Secondly, Sierra Leone continues to emphatically reiterate that deliberate attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited and amount to war crimes under Thirdly, accountability and justice mechanisms for addressing human rights violations and war crimes committed during this conflict should be prioritized in pursuit of lasting peace. Verified reports from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine and other international and regional bodies indicate breaches of international law and human rights violations, including the deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian objects in military strikes, as well as extrajudicial killings, torture, sexual offences and the abduction of tens of thousands of Ukrainian children. The reports have also verified incidents of abuse of both Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian detainees, as well as Russian prisoners of war. Sierra Leone has consistently joined other members of the Security Council to call for full, fair and impartial investigations into allegations of breaches of international law and gross human rights violations during conflict. We also urge all States to cooperate fully with the International Criminal Court. In conclusion, we are at a critical juncture in this conflict. The alarming civilian casualty figures and the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine underscore the urgent need for all parties to the conflict to prioritize the protection of civilians and refrain from further escalation. We urge the parties to engage constructively, including on their legitimate concerns, to find a political and diplomatic solution, as envisaged in Article 33 of the Charter of the United Nations.

We express our gratitude to the briefers for their comprehensive update. My delegation remains profoundly concerned by the continued deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in Ukraine. The ongoing hostilities serve only to prolong the suffering and further diminish the prospect of a sustainable peace. We are deeply troubled by the continuous escalation of military action affecting civilians. The protection of civilians 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 these principles without exception. We remain convinced that there is no military solution to this protracted conflict. Dialogue and diplomacy remain the only means to bring this crisis to an end. In this regard, we welcome the recent renewal of diplomatic engagement, specifically we welcome the meetings among the officials of the United States, the Russian Federation and Ukraine. These engagements represent a vital step towards de-escalation, and we hope they will lay the groundwork for a constructive path forward. We call upon all sides to seize this diplomatic momentum, exercise utmost restraint and commit to genuine negotiations. Durable solutions must address the root causes In conclusion, my delegation reaffirms its unwavering support for all diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a resolution that restores peace, security and stability in Ukraine. The Ukrainian people and all those affected by the conflict deserve peace, security and dignity.

I thank our briefers for their presentations and welcome the participation of the representative of Ukraine and the representatives of other European countries at our meeting. Yesterday my Prime Minister hosted President Zelenskyy, President Macron and Chancellor Merz in London for talks in which we recommitted our support to safeguarding Ukraine’s long-term security, sovereignty and prosperity. The United Kingdom supports efforts, led by the United States, to secure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, including robust security guarantees, in line with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. This is a war that President Putin started. He could, if he wished, end it at any time by ceasing his full-scale invasion. We continue to hope that Russia will engage seriously with peace talks. But despite the genuine efforts of partners to mediate, Russia’s campaign against Ukraine has only intensified in its brutality. The facts speak for themselves. Between 18 November and 4 December, Russia launched nearly 3,000 drones and more than 110 missiles at Ukrainian cities. This is a repeated pattern of Russian behaviour while President Putin claims he is engaging in good faith in peace talks. Since rejecting Ukraine’s offer of an immediate and unconditional ceasefire on 11 March, Russia has killed more than 1,850 Ukrainian civilians. And since peace talks began in May, Russia has launched the largest air attacks of the entire war. These are not the actions of a country sincerely interested — as President Putin claimed in August — in paving a path towards peace. The United Nations has reported this year that an estimated 12.7 million people in Ukraine need humanitarian support. Russia’s strikes not only directly kill civilians but worsen a dire humanitarian crisis. Since the start of October, Russia has launched nine mass air attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, reducing Ukraine’s energy production capacity by 40 per cent and causing nationwide blackouts lasting up to 16 hours a day. This is a deliberate weaponization of winter, plunging homes into freezing darkness and putting millions of vulnerable Ukrainian civilians at risk. We support President Trump and President Zelenskyy’s efforts to secure a just and lasting peace. How many more civilians have to die before Russia accepts a ceasefire?

Those who follow the Security Council meetings on Ukraine have yet another opportunity today to witness the hypocrisy of our European colleagues in demonstrating their unwavering support for the Kyiv regime. In practice, despite all the efforts by the organizers, today’s meeting serves only to highlight the peculiar interest of London, Paris, Berlin and other European capitals in continuing the war “until the last Ukrainian” so as to try to weaken Russia as much as possible, and rescue the anti-Russian project they started in Ukraine in 2014, which is now quickly going bankrupt. Not only did Russia consistently seek to prevent the acute crisis in European security triggered by NATO’s actions over many years, but also, from day one, we have expressed our willingness to pursue through peaceful means the objectives of our special military operation, which we were compelled to launch in February 2022. Those objectives include nothing that any peace-loving State would not legitimately expect from its neighbours. I doubt that any of those who are vociferating in this Chamber their hackneyed mantra about “Russian aggression” against Ukraine would sit idly by if their neighbour The reality, however, is quite the opposite. I think there is no need to delve into detail about the real problems that Ukraine is confronting today, almost 12 years after the unconstitutional coup orchestrated by Western capitals — even the Western media outlets, which kept quiet for years, are reporting on this now. Following the game-changing corruption scandals that prompted a number of high- profile resignations, the former comedian and his European sponsors spare no effort to pretend that the Kyiv princeling himself knew nothing about those criminal plots. What is also being hushed up by all means is the truth about the repressive and authoritarian system that has been set up over many years in Ukraine, resulting in thousands of political prisoners. What other country in the world can boast about banning the language spoken by the majority of its population and the unprecedented persecution of a thousand-year- old canonical faith and Orthodox church? How is it that Europe, which brags about its democratic values, deems the aforementioned actions normal? Not only has the Kyiv regime driven its own country to poverty and civil war, but it has also turned Ukraine into a bargaining chip in the geopolitical confrontation between the West and Russia. Ukrainians have already paid a horrific price for these criminal errors and blunders, but now they are compelled to pay even a higher price: men who do not want to fight are being grabbed in the streets and thrown into a pointless fratricidal meat grinder. Can any of those who called today’s meeting clarify why Ukrainians are being forced to fight against their will, even though there are perfectly realistic proposals on the table that can genuinely pave the way to a long-term and lasting settlement of the Ukrainian conflict, which our American colleagues are diligently working on? What are Ukraine’s European sponsors trying to achieve, given that they are well aware of how disastrous the situation on the battlefield is for Ukraine? After all, history inexorably shows that each new proposal placed before Ukraine turns out to be less favourable to this country than the previous ones, let alone the hundreds of thousands of senseless losses that this country has suffered owing to the criminal actions of its leadership. By forcing Ukrainians to fight and reject the peace terms offered to them, Kyiv’s sponsors in the European Union, of course, do not care at all about the fate of Ukraine, nor about its dignity — these are merely fairy tales for pink ponies or guppies, as aptly noted in Ukraine’s blogosphere. What London, Paris and Berlin seek is to buy time and prepare for war with Russia; this is a crazy idea that Brussels — Brussels as part of NATO and especially Brussels as part of the European Union — is now advancing as virtually the only ideology uniting European States and distracting their peoples from the socioeconomic and political problems that have been caused by the errors and blunders of their own leadership. Yet European politicians, who have gone mad in their Russophobia and powerlessness, are not bothered by the fact that Russia does not threaten anybody, After listening to the briefings of our European colleagues in this Chamber, we increasingly doubt that the current European elites are of sane mind; meanwhile, hopes for a swift peace in Ukraine seem ever more illusory. The overwhelming majority of Ukrainians do not want to fight for the clique that has usurped power, but it is clear that they will simply not be permitted to end this military madness. Instead of realistic ideas, proposals and appeals, what we have heard today once again are only false assertions about allegedly targeted strikes by Russian air forces on Ukrainian civilian objects, although everyone in Ukraine knows full well that homes, hospitals, schools and kindergartens, if they suffer, suffer solely as a result of the Ukrainian air defence, which are set up in residential areas in violation of international humanitarian law. Meanwhile, none of the organizers of today’s meeting mentioned that strikes on energy and transport infrastructure are being promoted and ramped up by Mr. Zelenskyy himself, and it is for these strikes that, time and again, he receives painful retaliation. Instead, we heard more fables about Ukrainian children allegedly kidnapped by Russia, with no evidence provided by Ukraine. The truth is that, for all the claims about thousands of Ukrainian children in Russia, Kyiv was able to provide data on only 339 children in response to our persistent requests, and much of the information provided was not confirmed after the investigation. In other words, the children’s issue is nothing but a mendacious propaganda campaign, through which Europe is trying to manipulate public opinion and vilify Russia. It is therefore no better than the disgusting hoax in Bucha, with neither Ukraine nor its Western sponsors being able to provide evidence of Russia’s involvement in this. The true attitude of the Kyiv regime towards Ukrainian children is evidenced by the scandal unfolding in Ukraine over the transfer of about 3,500 orphaned children from the Dnipropetrovsk region to Türkiye in 2022 as part of the Childhood without War initiative, which was overseen by the wife of the Ukrainian President, Olena Zelenska. What came to light in the spring of 2024 are chilling facts about psychological pressure vis-à-vis children and mistreatment of them. Those children were systematically exploited in public propaganda events. The police then launched a criminal investigation, but, as is often the case in Ukraine, the case was swiftly closed, and the scandal was hushed up so as not to upset those in power. As a result, none of the organizers of that project, which was orchestrated by Mr. Zelenskyy’s wife, were ever punished. Do our compassionate European colleagues want to investigate this case, which has outraged millions of Ukrainians? Of course not, because for them, children are nothing but a pretext for yet another anti-Russian campaign. We hope that London, Paris, Berlin and Brussels will finally come to their senses, but that hope is faint, and today’s meeting, unfortunately, only confirms this. Too much is already at stake for the elites there, and too many lies have already been spread about the Ukrainian crisis and its true causes. However, we need to remember that it is not only the ambitions and hang-ups of European Russophobes that are in play right now, but also the fate of the whole world, because an armed conflict between Russia and Europe, which the latter is so doggedly seeking, is unlikely to remain local. Washington now fully understands this, and we are grateful to our American colleagues who are trying to help the “agitated minds” in Europe grasp this obvious truth.

I now give the floor to the representative of Ukraine.

Let me begin by expressing my gratitude to the Slovenian presidency and to Your Excellency, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ms. Tanja Fajon, for convening today’s meeting devoted to Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. I also wish to thank the briefers, Ms. Gotoh and Assistant Secretary-General Ms. Msuya, for their presentations, and Mr. Lovrenčič, in particular, for his testimony. Regrettably, the three months that have passed since I most recently had the honour of addressing the Council (see S/PV.9995) have not brought any relief to my country. On the contrary, the situation for Ukrainians has deteriorated dramatically as Russia has intensified its campaign of terror through strikes against residential areas and critical civilian infrastructure. These acts of State terrorism have not only led to hundreds of civilian casualties but have also placed the lives of millions on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe. Council members will recall, during our previous appearances here before the Security Council, I invoked the play Waiting for Godot by the Nobel Prize winner Samuel Beckett (see S/PV.9995). We implored this body not to fall into a state of endless expectation — not to wait for a miracle from heaven, for better circumstances or for someone else to act — but instead to adopt a resolution mandating an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire. Tragically, nothing has changed. Or rather, the only thing that has changed is the scale of Russia’s brutality, which brings suffering to millions of Ukrainians. I will return to Samuel Beckett later in my remarks. Now I wish to reiterate with absolute clarity that Ukraine continues to expect the Council to adopt this long-overdue ceasefire resolution. A full and unconditional ceasefire here and now would not only bring an end to the bloodshed but could also serve as a first step towards rebuilding the minimum degree of mutual trust required to launch genuine and credible peace negotiations. Ukraine has been ready for such steps for months. It is Russia that repeatedly rejects them. At our previous meetings in the Chamber, Ukraine has always presented a grim catalogue of attacks carried out against my country — waves of ballistic and cruise missiles, swarms of drones, artillery barrages and thousands of glide bombs falling with mechanical regularity upon our cities and towns. Day after day, night after night, they take innocent lives and devastate civilian infrastructure. I will not recite new figures today. Experience shows that these numbers, however painful for Ukrainians, rarely move the Council to act properly. Russia sits at this table and continues to undermine its work. Those figures have become a kind of desolate arithmetic — cruel statistics of war absorbed without reflection and noted here without much consequence. What is an unbearable tragedy for us is perceived elsewhere as little more than a routine ledger of a distant conflict. Instead, I wish to focus on a question that carries far greater weight. Why is Russia still able to wage this brutal war against Ukraine? Why, nearly four years after launching its full-scale military invasion, does Moscow retain the material, financial and political means to continue striking Ukrainian cities and killing civilians? And why does the international community still tolerate this? The main reason Russia is still able to continue its war against Ukraine — producing Russia earned roughly $270 billion from the export of its fuel last year. What is even more striking is how concentrated these revenues are. Three countries alone account for approximately 75 per cent of that income. The three countries, which serve as Russia’s biggest energy customers, are no secret to anyone in the Chamber. For those who are still not aware, just google it. If we place the numbers of energy imports side by side with Russia’s military budget last year, estimated at approximately $145 billion dollars, the picture becomes unmistakably clear. The purchases of Russian energy by just these three biggest consumers exceeded by far the entirety of Russia’s annual defence spending. In other words, owing to the absence of United Nations- mandated sanctions — an absence ensured, of course, by Moscow’s abuse of its veto in the Council — a number of States are effectively sustaining Putin’s war machine through their increasing imports of Russian oil, gas and coal. They keep providing the Kremlin with the financial oxygen that ignites the fire of war. Each of the major importers of Russian fossil fuels will readily present arguments explaining why increasing deliveries of Russian oil and gas is essential, or even a noble undertaking, for the economic prosperity of their nations. Yet this stance is profoundly hypocritical, because on the other side of the coin lies an undeniable truth: the very revenues they justify as engines of development are the same funds that allow Russia to continue financing its barbaric war of aggression against Ukraine. These are the same funds that allow Russia to kill civilians and to erase towns from the surface of the earth. That is why Ukraine welcomes the decisive steps taken recently by the United States of America to target Russia’s largest energy companies. We are confident that in the months ahead, this pressure will have a tangible impact. Any reduction in Russia’s ability to sell its energy resources strikes directly at its war chest. This is not an abstraction. There is a direct link between every dollar that flows into the Russian budget today and the missile that falls tomorrow on an apartment building in Kyiv. That is precisely the reason why Ukraine appeals to all our partners to align with this approach. We call upon the European Union, the United States of America and all other peace-loving countries to introduce massive secondary sanctions against all those countries who keep supporting Russia’s war-making machine. The broader the coalition of States that refuse to subsidize Russian aggression through energy imports, the sooner this war will come to an end. Once this flow of dirty money begins to dry up, Putin will be the first to seek a ceasefire. His war depends on cash; it is as simple as that. Cut the revenues, and this house of cards collapses. This is why every effective sanction, every halted oil shipment, every contract not renewed truly matter. In Russian folklore, there is a villain called “Koshchei the Deathless”. He hides his source of life inside a very tiny needle — a single fragile point on which his power depends. Russia’s war engine has its own needle — the petrodollars from energy exports. As long as that needle remains intact, the Kremlin believes itself immortal, untouchable, capable of endless expansion. But once we break it, once the flow of oil and gas money is curtailed, the illusion of Russia’s invincibility will vanish like dew in the sun. Just like in the old tale, the moment the needle snaps, the monster will lose his power. Ukraine would like to commend the recent peace efforts of the United States, especially the very intensive shuttle diplomacy of the past few weeks. We count on the strength and mastery of United States diplomacy, which could bring to an end the bloodiest war on European soil since 1945. Ukraine reaffirms its readiness for concrete steps to restore a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. But let me be clear: our territory and our sovereignty are not for sale. We are not at a Christmas bazaar; we are not at the infamous Cherkizovsky (spoke in Russian) “You will get the hole of a bagel, but not Ukraine.” (spoke in English) In conclusion, let me again refer to Samuel Beckett. In his play Endgame, the world has already collapsed, yet its characters cling to empty motions as if mere repetition could restore normality. The protagonists speak, they argue, but nothing changes. They go around in endless circles, with the same gestures, the same rituals, the same illusions of control. It is a portrait of humankind in the aftermath of catastrophe, trapped not by physical ruins but by a deeper paralysis of will. Samuel Beckett shows us that the true end begins not with destruction but with quiet surrender to inaction. And, here, in this Chamber, that wording feels — at least for us — unbearably close. For almost 12 years, Russia’s brutal war of aggression has ravaged a sovereign nation, devouring lives in real time. Cities have been erased, children orphaned, millions displaced and yet the Council often behaves as if it were on Beckett’s stage. Too often, it moves as if on a track laid long ago, going around in circles, through procedures, returning to familiar debates, allowing Moscow to continue killing under the pretext of an institutional blockade. Samuel Beckett teaches us that final defeat comes when we accept absurdity as normal, when we grow accustomed to injustice and to human suffering. We cannot afford a Council that resembles the stage of a theatre, on which catastrophe is acknowledged but not really confronted. To end this terrible war demands more than eloquence; it requires the one attribute Beckett’s play deprives its characters of: the courage to act before inaction becomes complicity, before history decides that the Council, too, has eventually reached its own endgame.

I now give the floor to the representative of Poland.

I thank you, Madam President, for convening this meeting, and I thank the briefers for their informative interventions. Poland notes, with satisfaction, the renewed search for peace in Ukraine and the intense diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war. For almost four years now, Ukraine has been fighting a brutal full-scale Russian aggression that violates all fundamental principles of international law. To restore peace, we therefore need to look for a solution rooted in the fundamental principles — principles that this Organization and the Council were designed to protect. Unfortunately, our doubts about Russia’s willingness to agree to a ceasefire and engage in comprehensive peace talks were proven true. Moscow sticks to its maximalist goals, which are the real root causes of this war and depict Ukraine as deprived of sovereignty, territorial integrity and de facto freedom. To accept that would be a dangerous step backwards for the global rules that keep us safe. If we want lasting peace, we cannot agree to Russia’s conditions simply because this would only encourage Moscow to continue its policy of aggression. What has to be reflected in a framework for peace is that Ukraine is a victim and Russia is an aggressor. We back President Trump’s call for an immediate end to the fighting and for negotiations to begin on the basis of the present lines of control. We appreciate that Ukraine has repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to negotiate in good faith. However, Russia has yet to show similar commitment. Instead, President Putin is doubling down on war. Not only is he escalating attacks on Ukraine, but he is also issuing vicious threats that he is ready to take his war further into Europe. These threats leave no illusion: Russia is at its most aggressive since the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin. Despite its seat in the Security Council as a supposed guardian of the peace, it is choosing war instead. Let us not forget the terrible crimes committed by Russia Thousands of children have been illegally deported. We are also concerned about reports of kidnapped Ukrainian children being taken to North Korean camps and indoctrinated. In this context, we note with satisfaction the unity among a number of United Nations Member States about the protection of the rights of children and the adoption, last week, of a General Assembly resolution, urging Russia to ensure the safe return of all Ukrainian children whom it has forcibly transferred or deported (resolution ES-11/9). As the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has just reported, Russia continues to target energy, transport and healthcare infrastructure while winter conditions are worsening. These strikes are resulting in more power outages and disruption to vital services nationwide. Russia’s persistent attacks against civilians are not accidental; they are intended to inflict severe suffering and further aggravate the humanitarian situation. We will continue to support the brave people of Ukraine in their daily fight. We will not relent. The best answer to Russia’s aggression is clear: we will keep providing Ukraine with humanitarian, political, military and financial support. Let me reiterate: peace will be real only if it is based on international law. Any deal that rewards Russia’s aggression would lead only to more war, not to the dearly desired stability and balance of power. We stand with Ukraine and with justice, and we are committed to peace built on fairness and law.

I now give the floor to the representative of Norway.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the five Nordic countries — Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and my own country, Norway. We would like to thank the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and ITF Enhancing Human Security for their very valuable briefings and remarks today. Ukraine is facing what could be its toughest winter since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. In the midst of discussions on peace, Russia continues its relentless bombing campaign against civilians and civilian infrastructure. Every week, residential areas are targeted by missiles and drones, often at night when people are asleep. Attacks on Ukraine’s energy system are causing blackouts and disruption to heating, putting millions of people at risk as temperatures drop. The strategy is plain for everyone to see: it is to break the Ukrainian people’s resilience by depriving people of basic services and spreading terror. The position of the United Nations, save for the Council, has been clear: Russia’s war of aggression violates Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity — a clear breach of the Charter of the United Nations. As we approach the fifth year of Russia’s full-scale invasion, we have yet to see any genuine intention from Russia to end its war. Calls for a ceasefire have been met with indifference. On the contrary, we witness how Russia escalates its rhetoric and presents unacceptable demands that run counter to the core of the Charter of the United Nations. It bears constantly recalling that Russia started this war and can end it today. No matter how much Russia tries to spin the narrative, this fact is unchangeable. Russia’s actions stand in stark contrast to Ukraine’s constructive approach. No one wants peace more than Ukraine. The Nordic countries support a just and lasting peace in accordance with international law — a peace that lays the foundation for security, stability, reconstruction and prosperity and that prevents new acts of aggression; a peace that ensures Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence, as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. And the way this war is settled matters to all of us. If international law is pushed aside, and Russian aggression is rewarded, the implications could be very grave. It would signal that changing borders by force pays off and that brutality trumps norms and rules, and this is why we will continue to insist Let me conclude by highlighting the human dimension of Russia’s war. Last week, the General Assembly adopted a resolution demanding that Russia return the Ukrainian children who have been forcibly transferred or deported (resolution ES-11/9). The Nordic countries were proud to co-sponsor this resolution because there are no justifications for abducting children. It violates the rights of the most vulnerable and reminds us of the horrors of Russia’s war. And we take this opportunity to once again demand that Russia return the children to their families, where they belong.

I now give the floor to the representative of Romania.

We fully support the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union at this meeting, and I would like to add a few points. The most recent Council meeting on Ukraine overwhelmingly called for a ceasefire, as a first step towards peace in Ukraine (see S/PV.10050). We strongly reiterate this call for a ceasefire. Despite intensive diplomatic efforts over the past days and weeks, Russia has yet to show the will to stop the war. As we speak, Russia’s war of aggression continues on the ground, and Russian missile and drone strikes intensify, causing death and destruction. Across Ukraine, the plight of civilians continues. No region of Ukraine is safe from Russia’s aerial strikes. We strongly condemn Russia’s latest attacks targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, railways, port system and residential areas with hundreds of drones and missiles. Like the previous ones, these recent attacks claim the lives of civilians, including children. The fate of Ukrainian children remains one of the most dramatic consequences of Russia’s aggression. We welcome the adoption by the General Assembly of the resolution entitled “Return of Ukrainian children” (resolution ES-11/9). We expect it to provide renewed impetus, including through the good offices of the Secretary-General, for addressing the situation of Ukrainian children who have been forcibly transferred or deported to Russia. Russia continues to violate the airspace of a number of Ukraine’s neighbouring countries, including my own country. Such reckless behaviour has chilling effects on the lives and security of civilians in these areas. Since our most recent intervention before the Council (see S/PV.10050), new drone intrusions into our airspace were detected on 25 November, and the remnants of a drone were found on Romanian soil. We again strongly condemn repeated violations of Romanian airspace by Russian drones. The security of the Black Sea is of concern not only for our region but also for global commercial routes. Romania has raised this issue before the Security Council, since the export route for grain from Ukraine was endangered by the war. We will continue to voice our concerns with regard to the security of the Black Sea region and the ports, including the Danube ports, and commercial sea and river shipping routes, and we will continue to support Ukrainian efforts. The security of Europe and of us all depends on the conditions for a future peace in Ukraine. Changing borders by force is unacceptable, and we cannot entrust an aggressor with a say in our freedom and security. Peace must not reward the aggressor. Romania welcomes the United States continued efforts towards peace in Ukraine and commends Ukraine’s genuine engagement in these efforts. It remains imperative to exert pressure to stop this war, including through sanctions and more concerted action vis-à-vis circumvention by Russia’s shadow fleet. We need to achieve peace as soon as possible. My delegation reaffirms that the achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace needs to be in line with the Charter of the United Nations and the principle of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, which is applicable to all nations, and we reiterate our continued support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Baltic States — Latvia, Lithuania and my own country, Estonia. We also align ourselves with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union. I would like to thank the briefers for their most valuable input. Despite Ukraine’s firm commitment to peace and despite repeated calls by the General Assembly and leaders across the globe for Russia to end its illegal war of aggression, the Kremlin continues its brutal assault on the sovereign nation of Ukraine. We underline, again, that Russia’s aggression is totally incompatible with not only the status and responsibilities of a permanent member of the Security Council but also those of any United Nations Member State, undermining the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and regional and global peace and security. While United States-led diplomatic efforts continue and all of us — including the Ukrainians, of course — hope that a full, comprehensive and immediate ceasefire will come sooner rather than later, the situation on the ground continues to worsen. The United Nations reports a steady rise in Russia’s attacks against Ukrainian civilians and critical infrastructure. On 6 December, Moscow launched at least 653 drones and 51 missiles against the people of Ukraine. The main targets were, once again, not military but heating, energy and transport infrastructure. This is yet another example of how Russia is desperately trying to break the spirit of Ukraine. Yet Ukraine continues to be strong, resilient and united, because its people are fighting for their own land and own people against an aggressor that it never sought. Thousands and thousands of Ukrainian children have been illegally abducted and deported to temporarily occupied territories in Ukraine, as well as to Russia, Belarus and even the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Last week, the General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for the immediate, safe and unconditional return of children who have been deported to occupied territories and Russia (resolution ES-11/9). It received overwhelming support, and we thank all the Member States that voted in favour of this resolution, upholding humanity and the principles of international law, including the Charter of the United Nations. Ukraine stands today as a symbol of the free world’s resilience against imperialism and neocolonial tyranny. We call on all Member States to step up pressure on Russia through stronger sanctions, while increasing political, military, financial and humanitarian support to Ukraine, including urgent support for Ukraine’s energy sector, which is systematically attacked by Russia. Only by increasing the cost of aggression for Russia will we be collectively able to force Russia to peace in Ukraine. Appeasement of dictators leads only to renewed aggression. Any credible peace deal needs to fully respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. The first step towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine should be an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. Unfortunately, we see neither willingness nor visible steps on the Russian side to indicate that the Kremlin has started moving towards a ceasefire, not to mention peace. Instead, it is clear that Putin’s goals vis-à-vis Ukraine have not changed. Russia’s imperial ambitions have always been characterized by a particular cruelty and crimes against the victims of aggression, demonstrating a total disregard for human life, even including that of its own soldiers. Only in November, Russia lost approximately 31,000 soldiers in Ukraine. The total casualty count on the Russian side is above 1.2 million soldiers. Meanwhile, there are increasingly alarming reports about human trafficking from our countries to work in drone factories in Russia, and even for Russia’s military. We call for Russia to allow the entry of United Nations and independent monitors to verify all of these claims. Russia and its leadership must be held accountable for the crime of ag-gression and other crimes committed in Ukraine. We call on all countries to join the special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. It is also absolutely clear that Ukraine and Europe must be fully involved in any process aimed at achieving a peace in Ukraine. Only full respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity can bring a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and, thereby, greater security and stability to Ukraine and Europe. Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine and nothing about Europe without Europe — these principles are still very much valid. Finally, let me assure Council members that Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will continue to stand with Ukraine in all domains, resolute and unwavering.

I now give the floor to the representative of the Republic of Moldova. Mr. Leucă (Republic of Moldova): I would first like to express our gratitude to the Slovenian presidency for convening this important meeting. I also wish to thank the briefers for their meaningful contributions. The Republic of Moldova aligns itself with the statements of our partners who stand firmly in defence of the Charter of the United Nations, international law and our shared security. Today, as the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine continues, we categorically condemn the Russian Federation’s illegal, unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine. This war remains one of the most blatant violations of the Charter of the United Nations in decades. It continues to inflict immense human suffering, destabilize regional and global security and undermine the foundations of the rules-based international order. From the first day of this full-scale invasion, Moldova has stood by Ukraine and by its people. We reiterate our full support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, within its internationally recognized borders, including Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Respect for these principles is the cornerstone of international peace and security and their violation threatens every State represented in this Chamber. We are deeply alarmed by the continuous and intensified Russian missile and drone attacks against Ukraine’s cities and towns that have tragically resulted in the killing of civilians and the widespread destruction of homes, schools, hospitals, energy infrastructure and cultural sites. As many speakers have stressed before, intentionally directing attacks against civilian objects or causing disproportionate civilian harm constitutes a war crime. These acts must cease immediately, and accountability must be assured for the most serious crimes under international law. The consequences of these attacks do not stop at Ukraine’s borders. In recent months, we have witnessed a deeply concerning pattern of violations of the airspace of neighbouring countries, a pattern that threatens to broaden this conflict and destabilize the entire region. Unfortunately, the Republic of Moldova has not been spared from the consequences of this conflict. On 25 November 2025, six Russian drones violated our airspace, prompting a formal protest to the Russian Federation. These actions were condemned as absolutely inadmissible, representing a serious violation of Moldovan sovereignty and a direct threat to national and regional security. Such violations of our airspace have been registered multiple times in the past three years. Russia was called upon to respect international norms, including the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova, and to take all necessary measures to prevent any recurrence. This incident underscores how the ongoing conflict in Ukraine continues to spill over, directly affecting our security and the safety of our population. Beyond its military dimension, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is accompanied by a broad and sustained pattern of hybrid operations targeting Moldova, aimed at weakening our institutions, dividing our society and undermining our democratic processes. Our country has faced extensive campaigns of disinformation, cyberattacks, covert financing of political actors and attempts to destabilize public order. These hostile actions reflect the same disregard for sovereignty and international law that Russia demonstrates militarily in Ukraine. In response, the Republic of Moldova has taken decisive measures to strengthen its internal resilience, protect its democracy and safeguard its national security. Under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, we have recently adopted the Plan for Strengthening Democratic Resilience for 2026–2027, which enhances information security, financial monitoring, cybersecurity defence and inter-institutional cooperation. Our objective is clear: to ensure that the democratic processes of the Republic of Moldova take place free of foreign interference and that our country remains stable, secure and committed to its democratic path. These developments remind us that the stakes of this war extend far beyond Ukraine. This is a test for the entire international community. To tolerate repeated acts of aggression, violations of sovereignty and attacks on civilians would set dangerous precedents, encouraging further instability and undermining the credibility of the United Nations Charter itself. Our collective resolve today will determine whether the principles enshrined in the Charter continue to guide international relations in the decades ahead. We therefore join other Member States in calling on the Russian Federation to end, without delay, its war of aggression, to halt all missile and drone attacks, to end provocations against neighbouring States and to withdraw, fully and unconditionally, from the territory of Ukraine. Escalation, maximalist positions and disregard for international norms cannot pave the way to peace. Only a return to the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter can create the conditions for a just and lasting peace in Europe. The Republic of Moldova remains committed to working together with all members of the international community to promote peace, accountability and stability. We support diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, one that respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and restores security to our region. The Republic of Moldova will continue to stand with Ukraine politically, diplomatically and economically, and to stand in solidarity with its people who fight for their freedom and for principles that underpin the international order. Our support is not merely an expression of neighbourly solidarity. It is a defence of the very principles that ensure the security and dignity of all nations.

I now give the floor to Mr. Lambrinidis. Mr. Lambrinidis: It is great to see you, Madam President. I thank the presidency for convening this meeting and our briefers for their clear statements on the consequences of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and for their critical efforts in leading the United Nations political and humanitarian engagement in Ukraine. We find ourselves at a pivotal moment. The negotiations towards peace are accelerating as we speak. No one wants peace in line with the Charter of the United Nations more than Ukraine — the victim of Russia’s illegal aggression for nearly four years. After the adoption Every member of the Security Council has called for an immediate ceasefire to stop the killing and facilitate peace talks — every member, that is, except for Russia. This is the moment to solidify that call. The Security Council may not have the power to force Russia to abide by resolution 2774 (2025), but it has both the power and the ultimate authority to exert maximum diplomatic pressure on the only country that is openly violating this resolution to finally stop the killing. We must never forget who bears the brunt of this war: for nearly four years, Ukrainian citizens have lived in fear for their very lives and the safety of their loved ones. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, almost 7 million Ukrainians have registered as refugees, and a further 3.7 million are internally displaced. More than 42,000 civilians have been wounded or killed, including 2,500 children. Just last week, the General Assembly adopted a landmark resolution on the return of Ukrainian children (General Assembly resolution ES- 11/9). It calls on Russia to immediately ensure the safe return of all the Ukrainian children it has forcibly transferred or deported and provides the Secretary-General with a clear mandate to facilitate this urgent humanitarian imperative. We thank the United Nations membership for its strong support for this critical issue and expect it to provide concrete progress, first and foremost for children to be reunited with their families. Almost four years into Russia’s unprovoked full-scale war of aggression, I am afraid that this needs to be repeated: we cannot allow an aggressor State to attempt to change borders by force — not in Ukraine, not anywhere. Aggressors must never be rewarded. Perpetrators must face justice. I am restating here a basic but fundamental principle of international law and the United Nations Charter, and all United Nations Members should openly repeat this call and call Russia out accordingly. Some third countries and actors and entities therein that continue to enable Russia’s war of aggression must be told to stop doing so. We condemn the continued military support provided by Iran, Belarus and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and urge all countries, including all members of the Council, to immediately cease any direct or indirect assistance to Russia in its war of aggression. Russia must stop its war and agree to a ceasefire now, and all of us must reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. If we want to bring an end to this unprecedented violation of the United Nations Charter, to this blatant injustice and to the terrible suffering that it has brought about on the ground, this is the one and only clear signal to send at this critical juncture.