S/PV.10087 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of Lithuania, 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. Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs; and Mr. Ramesh Rajasingham, Director of the Humanitarian Sector Division and Head and Representative of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva. 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 now give the floor to Ms. DiCarlo. Ms. DiCarlo: The start of the new year has brought no peace or even respite to Ukraine but renewed fighting and devastation. Large-scale aerial assaults by the Russian Federation against civilians and civilian infrastructure across the country have resulted in horrific levels of destruction and suffering. As temperatures plummet far below freezing, the Russian Federation has intensified its systematic attacks targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The strikes have killed and injured scores of civilians and deprived millions of Ukrainians of electricity, heating and water for prolonged periods. The impact of these attacks is felt hardest by the most vulnerable — the elderly, children and persons with limited mobility. They follow a well- established and deeply troubling pattern: attacks escalate when weather conditions worsen and people’s need for heating becomes most acute. In one of the most recent large-scale barrages, overnight between 8 and 9 January, the Russian Federation reportedly launched 242 drones and 36 missiles against Ukraine. In Kyiv, at least four people were reportedly killed and 25 others injured. A paramedic rushing to provide emergency medical care was among those killed, reportedly by a so-called “double-tap” strike. Energy facilities and multiple residential buildings were damaged, leaving nearly half of the city and hundreds of thousands of residents without heating. The Embassy of Qatar was also damaged. That same day, areas in the western Lviv region, near the Polish border, were reportedly targeted by a Russian intermediate-range ballistic missile, the so-called “Oreshnik”. This would be the second time the potentially devastating weapon has been fired at Ukraine since 2024. The Oreshnik system is believed to be capable of carrying nuclear weapons, which has heightened concern over its deployment. According to Ukrainian authorities, the strike damaged gas distribution pipelines, raising additional concerns about risks to critical civilian infrastructure. Also on 8 January, two foreign-flagged civilian vessels were hit by Russian drones in the Odesa region. On 17 January, Russian strikes in the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions reportedly left more than 1 million people without running water or heating. In Kryvyi Rih, 17 people, including children, were reportedly injured when missiles and drones hit residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure. And in the Odesa region, two people were reportedly killed and eight others injured in an attack on two ports. Cooking oil storage facilities and containers were damaged. Odesa was hit again yesterday. This was the latest in a highly concerning escalation of strikes targeting Ukraine’s port infrastructure and commercial shipping. In recent weeks, civilian casualties and extensive damage to critical infrastructure have also been reported in the Kherson, Donetsk, Kharkiv and Sumy regions. In total, since the start of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has verified that at least 14,999 civilians have been killed, including 763 children, and 40,601 civilians have been injured, including 2,486 children. The actual figures are likely higher. The OHCHR’s human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine has just reported that 2025 was the deadliest year for civilians since 2022. Inside the Russian Federation, local authorities continue to report civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure resulting from alleged Ukrainian strikes. We are seeing additional reports of escalating cross-border attacks on Russia’s oil and energy infrastructure, some of which reportedly resulted in civilian casualties and damage to civilian and residential facilities. In Belgorod Oblast, local authorities reported that 600,000 residents were left without electricity, heating and water after a Ukrainian strike on 9 January. The authorities also reported the use of drones, targeting the Kursk, Bryansk and Belgorod regions on 10 January, which left one person killed and at least three other people injured. Owing to a lack of access and limited public information, the United Nations is not in a position to verify these reports. We reiterate the Secretary-General’s strong condemnation of all attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure. Such attacks violate international humanitarian law. No matter where they occur, they are unacceptable, unjustifiable and must stop immediately. As hostilities intensify, the situation at Ukraine’s nuclear sites remains extremely precarious. On the night of 3 January, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, in Zaporizhzhia, temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation, lost power from one of its high-voltage lines owing to hostilities. Over the past week, the team of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at the site has reported a significant increase in military activity in the areas surrounding the plant, including explosions heard close to the facility. These events are extremely alarming. The IAEA continues its efforts to establish temporary ceasefire zones in the areas around the plant to allow for essential repair work to ensure its safe and secure functioning. We urge both the Russian Federation and Ukraine to engage constructively with the IAEA and to immediately cease any military activities near the plant in order to reduce the risk of a catastrophic accident. In just over a month, we will mark four years since the start of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The war has brought untold suffering to the Ukrainian people, killed an unimaginable number of young men of both countries, caused global economic dislocation and sown instability in the region and beyond. The damage it has done to the international system is still being measured. The war should never have started, and it must stop. We commend the efforts of the United States and all others concerned that are working towards peace. We urge all involved to sustain this vital work, including through concrete steps to de-escalate, stop the ongoing attacks affecting civilians in Ukraine and in the Russian Federation, and establish clear parameters to end this devastating conflict. We reaffirm the Secretary-General’s repeated calls for an immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire as a first step towards a just, lasting and comprehensive peace grounded in respect for international law and the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. Any peace in Ukraine must fully uphold the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders. The United Nations remains ready to support all meaningful efforts towards this end.

I thank Ms. DiCarlo for her briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Rajasingham. Mr. Rajasingham: I thank you, Mr. President, for this opportunity to update the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. Since our most recent briefing on 9 December (see S/PV.10057), the plight of civilians has grown more desperate, as large-scale attacks continue to push energy systems, emergency services and the very means of winter survival to the brink. As just outlined by Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo, multiple regions across the country were struck on 8 January, causing civilian casualties and widespread disruption to electricity, heating and water supplies, with temperatures of -10°C and below. In Kyiv, authorities reported several civilian deaths and more than 20 people injured in the attacks. Among the victims were health workers and first responders assisting those affected. One health worker was killed, while five rescuers and four health workers were injured after coming under repeated strikes. Since the start of the year, the World Health Organization has reported 11 attacks on healthcare in Ukraine, resulting in two deaths and 14 injuries. What makes these attacks especially devastating is that they cripple the systems that keep civilians alive during winter. Power, heating and water infrastructure have been repeatedly struck in major urban areas, including Kyiv, Odesa, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia and Kryvyi Rih, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without electricity, heating or water for prolonged periods. With winter conditions intensifying, each damaged substation, heating pipeline or pumping station triggers cascading failures that put even more lives at risk. In Kryvyi Rih, families are melting snow for washing and cooking. They are also heating water over candles after power cuts lasting more than a day. In Kyiv, more than 1,200 heated safe spaces are operating, and State emergency services and our humanitarian partners have established an additional 68 heating points in the most affected neighbourhoods, offering people a place to warm up, charge their phones and reconnect with loved ones amid blackouts. Civilians continue to be evacuated under dangerous conditions. Continued hostilities and repeated strikes on residential areas are forcing people to flee front- line communities. In recent days, evacuations have continued from the Donetsk region, including a high proportion of children, older people and those with limited mobility. On arrival in safer areas, many have urgent needs for shelter, medical care, protection and winter assistance. Our humanitarian partners continue to deliver wherever access allows. Emergency support, including shelter materials, winter assistance and health services, is being provided in Kyiv and other affected cities and towns. However, humanitarian access remains constrained in some front-line areas due to active hostilities, damaged infrastructure and security restrictions, delaying or suspending operations where needs are most acute. For civilians in occupied parts of Ukraine, humanitarian organizations have limited information about needs arising from ongoing fighting and winter conditions. The humanitarian community stands ready to support civilians in need wherever they are, including in the occupied areas of Ukraine, but we must have unimpeded humanitarian access and sustained funding. With the escalation of hostilities in Ukraine soon entering its fifth year, 10.8 million people in Ukraine urgently need humanitarian assistance. Tomorrow, Tuesday, 13 January, the United Nations and our partners, in consultation with the Government of Ukraine, will launch the 2026 humanitarian needs and response plan, which seeks $2.31 billion to deliver life-saving assistance to 4.12 million people facing the most severe needs. Under the humanitarian reset, the response in Ukraine is sharply focused on those most at risk, particularly along the front line, including civilians affected by displacement and repeated strikes on essential infrastructure. We must reiterate that 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 those causing disproportionate incidental death or injury to civilians or damage to civilian objects, are strictly prohibited. Strikes on residential areas and energy systems raise serious concern about compliance with those fundamental rules of war. I urge members of the Council to act decisively — to use their voice, their influence and their engagement — in order to ensure three things. First, civilians everywhere must be protected. Secondly, safe, sustained and unimpeded humanitarian access to civilians in need must be facilitated. When support is delayed or suspended, the consequences are immediate and severe. Thirdly, humanitarian action must be funded in line with the scale of needs through the hyper-prioritized humanitarian needs and response plan so that essential life-saving assistance can continue. Civilians who are enduring these attacks need more than statements of concern from the Council. They need concrete action to reduce civilian harm and ensure that humanitarian support continues to reach people when they need it most.

I thank Mr. Rajasingham for his briefing. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

I thank the presidency of the Council for convening this meeting, and I thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo and Director Rajasingham for their detailed and factual briefings. Almost four years ago, the Russian Federation started its full-scale aggression against Ukraine. The Council has held more than 100 meetings to stop it, but the Russian Federation continues to reject the international community’s appeals for peace. For this reason, Latvia, together with Liberia, Denmark, France, Greece and the United Kingdom, has supported Ukraine’s request for this meeting. Worse, the Russian Federation has increased its vile attacks, killing innocent children, mothers and teachers, destroying infrastructure and continuing to endanger diplomatic missions in Kyiv. Once again, on the night of 8 to 9 January, the Russian Federation carried out large-scale, combined drone and missile attacks on Ukraine. For a second time, it launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile also capable of carrying a nuclear payload. Latvia strongly condemns the continuous barbaric attacks by the Russian Federation, which deliberately target civilians and energy infrastructure amid sub-zero winter. We call on the members of the Council to condemn this systematic brutality, which threatens peace and security globally. The Russian Federation is deliberately testing the limits of international resolve. Latvia will not relent in our support of the core principles of the Charter of the United Nations: sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence. Latvia will continue to support Ukraine and will act against the aggressor and its supporters, including through targeted sanctions. The Russian Federation relies on fiction and lies, including the unfounded claims of air strikes on the residence of the President of the Russian Federation as a pretext. This is deplorable, but entirely predictable. It is a well-worn tactic from the Kremlin’s playbook, designed to fabricate pretexts, stall for time and deliberately undermine any genuine peace effort. The only verified fact remains that the Russian Federation is killing civilians. We call on the Russian Federation to stop spreading falsehoods and instead grant access to international monitors, especially United Nations agencies and the International Committee of the Red Cross. We continue to be deeply concerned about reports of human trafficking from Africa, the Middle East and other regions to work in drone factories in the Russian Federation or even be sent to the front lines as expendables. Latvia strongly supports the efforts, under the leadership of the United States, to secure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. Ukraine has clearly demonstrated its readiness to make great sacrifices to achieve it, and the whole of Europe has worked tirelessly, in good faith, to restore peace on our continent. Last week in Paris, a coalition of over 35 nations, including Latvia, together with Ukraine and the United States, committed to durable principles to achieve peace in Ukraine. The Russian Federation rejects them. It is important to highlight a disturbing pattern: the closer we come to peace and justice, the more brazen the attacks and lies by the Russian Federation become. In conclusion, we reaffirm our resolute support for Ukraine. Let us be clear: for four years, the Russian Federation has been deliberately targeting civilians in Ukraine. These inhumane and immoral tactics will not succeed. Ukraine is heroically defending itself against the aggression. As an elected member of the Council, Latvia takes on its responsibilities with the full weight of the moment and a clear sense of duty under the United Nations Charter, and it is committed to achieving a just and lasting peace. We urge all members of the Council to uphold their responsibility, recognize the actor obstructing peace and act accordingly.

Liberia thanks the briefers for their important updates and thanks the United States and others for efforts aimed at achieving peace. The risks before us are clear: continued escalation, deepening humanitarian suffering, widespread destruction of infrastructure and broader regional instability. The war in Ukraine is testing not only international peace and security but also the foundational principles of the Organization: the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and the peaceful settlement of disputes. These principles are not abstract ideals, nor were they intended to be. They are the rules that make peaceful coexistence among nations possible. Furthermore, they guarantee the maintenance of international peace and security. Whenever the Council has confronted questions on these principles, it has acted to confirm one constant truth: adherence to these principles is neither optional nor selective. More importantly, they cannot be upheld in response to convenience. Notably, the erosion of these principles, whether through disregard or selective application, has repeatedly made the world more dangerous and unsafe. This was true 80 years ago; it certainly remains true today. A world committed to multilateralism must reject the notion that force is an effective or legitimate language of security. The very basis of our collective membership in the United Nations is a shared commitment to resolve disputes through dialogue and peaceful means. Therefore, Liberia calls on all parties to respect their obligations, under the Charter of the United Nations, to protect civilians, to halt destruction, to take concrete steps towards ending this war and to prevent further escalation — not because it is easy but because it is necessary. Our own lived experience reminds us that military solutions, even when deemed possible, do not deliver sustainable peace or lasting security. Liberia supports the Council’s continued engagement on the war in Ukraine. However, we must be clear: when the Council declares itself seized of a matter that gravely threatens international peace and security, it must do so with the collective resolve to move beyond a mere repetition of national positions to a genuine search for a resolution. Anything less risks undermining the credibility of the Council and of the United Nations itself. After years of conflict and repeated warnings of worsening conditions, the Council simply cannot be content with restating positions that have neither advanced peace nor offered hope to those affected. The people of Ukraine and all those impacted by this war deserve peace, and they deserve security. That outcome is not impossible. It is in fact achievable, but only if we act with seriousness, creativity, urgency and cooperation. Liberia’s own journey from conflict to peace has taught us this hard truth. Peace becomes possible when cooperation replaces confrontation, when dialogue includes even adversaries and when international law and fidelity to the Charter bind all nations, both big and small. Finally, ours is a simple message. The war must end. The killings must stop. The destruction must cease. The path to true peace must begin. Liberia stands ready to work constructively with all Council members to ensure that future generations inherit a world where peace remains possible.

I would like to thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Director Rajasingham for their briefings. We also welcome the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to this meeting. While talks to bring peace to Ukraine continue, Russia has again chosen to intensify its brutal war, which brings us again to the Council. It is hard to know which element of Russia’s attacks on Ukraine on the night between 8 and 9 January is the most outrageous. First, in a single night, Russia fired hundreds of drones and missiles at Ukraine’s cities. Before dawn, at least four civilians in Kyiv were dead and 25 wounded. As we heard from Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo, paramedics attempting to pull survivors from the rubble were also attacked in a so-called double-tap strike, with one of the rescuers also killed. Denmark condemns these shocking Russian attacks. We recall that intentionally directing attacks against civilians is a serious violation of international humanitarian law and constitutes a war crime. Secondly, Russian missiles struck key sites in Ukraine’s energy grid, leaving half of Kyiv’s homes without heating. This is part of the Kremlin’s ongoing efforts to use the harsh winter as a weapon of war and deny Ukraine’s civilian population the warmth they need to survive in freezing temperatures. We recall that attacking objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population is prohibited under international humanitarian law. Denmark calls on Russia to immediately comply with all of its obligations under international humanitarian law. Thirdly, the air strikes included the deployment of a hypersonic missile, which hit the outskirts of Lviv. Hitting a city only a short distance from NATO and European Union territory is a reminder of Russia’s recklessness and is a cause for great concern. Russia’s use of this missile has again shown its willingness to escalate its war of aggression. These are irresponsible actions, which we condemn and which only reinforce our commitment to continue supporting Ukraine alongside our allies and partners. The Russian aerial blitz on Ukraine is the latest appalling episode in the Kremlin’s ongoing and systematic acts of aggression. As we have repeatedly said, it is far beyond high time for Russia’s war in Ukraine to stop. Despite intense engagement between Kyiv and Washington, so far we have only seen bad-faith participation by Moscow in peace talks. Russia’s response to diplomacy has been to inflict more death and destruction to the people of Ukraine. It is clear that the first step must be an immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire. This is exactly what Ukraine has been offering for almost a year now. In the absence of President Putin showing a sudden and dramatic change of heart, the international community must apply more pressure and do all it can to compel Russia to walk the path to peace in earnest. Let me be clear: Russia’s crime of aggression was the only root cause of this horrendous war. We cannot turn our backs on the core principles and rules under the Charter of the United Nations: the prohibition on the use of force, the right to self- defence, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States and the peaceful settlement of international disputes. These are key to ensuring long-term security — not only for Ukraine, but for all States Members of the United Nations.

I thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo and Director Rajasingham for their briefings. The Ukraine crisis has dragged on for almost four years. The situation has now entered a critical stage of negotiated settlement. The key stakeholders have proposed various peace initiatives and plans. The window for negotiations has opened, and the door for peace is within sight. Regrettably, fighting continues on the ground, and repeated flare-ups have cast a shadow over the prospect of peace. The path forward remains arduous. The more complex and grim the situation, the more we must not give up hope and the more we must redouble our efforts. First, peace must prevail over war. Russia and Ukraine are inseparable neighbours. Achieving harmonious coexistence between the two countries is the common aspiration of all parties and the only correct choice. A continued war will only lead to the loss of more innocent lives and heightened tensions at the regional and international levels. We call on all relevant parties to abide by the three principles of no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of fighting and no provocation by any party, in order to de-escalate the situation, protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, create conditions for political settlement and strive for the early realization of peace. Secondly, dialogue must prevail over confrontation. Conflicts and tensions, regardless of their scale and intensity, will ultimately need to be resolved through dialogue and negotiation. The hard-won momentum of the latest round of peace talks should be cherished by all sides. We call on the parties to the conflict to work towards the same goal, continuously build consensus and take seriously and appropriately address each other’s security concerns, in order to reach a comprehensive, lasting and binding peace agreement as soon as possible. The potential peace deal should eliminate the root causes of conflict, build a balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture and contribute to the lasting peace and stability of the continent. Thirdly, unity must prevail over division. Garnering more voices and making stronger appeals are essential for promoting a ceasefire and giving lasting peace a better chance. The international community should project a more objective, balanced and rational voice in order to help realize the vision of peace as soon as possible. The continued spillover of the crisis has severely impinged on the global economy. China opposes the use of the crisis by any party as a pretext to impose illegal unilateral sanctions and disrupt normal trade and economic relations. China also opposes any opportunist attempts to divide the world and create closed and exclusive blocs. China’s position on the Ukraine issue has been crystal clear and consistent. Guided by President Xi Jinping’s four “shoulds”, China has made relentless efforts to promote peace talks, facilitate a political settlement and create conditions and build consensus for peace. We have maintained close communication with Russia, Ukraine and other relevant parties, actively engaged in shuttle diplomacy and set up a Group of Friends for Peace on the Ukraine Crisis for that purpose. We have been continuously making calls for peace, garnering consensus and promoting peace efforts. China sincerely welcomes all efforts that contribute to the peaceful settlement of the crisis and will continue to work with others to play a constructive role in promoting a political solution of the crisis.

I would like to thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo and Director Rajasingham for their briefings, and I welcome the participation of Ukraine in the meeting. The continuing drone and missile attacks unleashed by the Russian Federation against major urban centres, civilians and critical energy infrastructure in Ukraine, including over the holiday season and the past few days, demonstrate Moscow’s disregard for the diplomatic momentum built in Geneva, Florida and Paris. The intermediate-range ballistic missile strike of 9 January against the Lviv region — just 60 kilometres from the Polish border — using the so-called “Oreshnik” missile, represents the most recent serious escalation of this war, posing a major threat to the safety and energy security of Ukraine. These recent strikes, which resulted in numerous civilian casualties and severe destruction of buildings and critical infrastructure, left thousands of Ukrainians without electricity, heating and water in the middle of winter, illustrating once again utter disregard for international law and international humanitarian law. Moreover, during the strikes in Kyiv, the premises of the Embassy of the State of Qatar were damaged, in flagrant violation of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. In view of the aforementioned, I would like to make three points. First, we join the Secretary-General in condemning in the strongest possible terms the deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian and energy infrastructure in blatant violation of international humanitarian law, and we call upon Russia to cease such unacceptable, unjustifiable and unlawful acts immediately. As we have heard from Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo, 2025 was the deadliest year for civilians in Ukraine since 2022. Total civilian casualties in Ukraine increased by more than 30 per cent compared to the previous year and by 70 per cent compared to 2023. We express our gratitude to all United Nations and humanitarian agencies in Ukraine, including the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UNICEF and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, for the life-saving services they provide, particularly in protecting the most vulnerable groups such as children, women and people with disabilities. Secondly, we reiterate our principled position that the protection of humanitarian personnel should always remain a top priority and that they must never be targeted. We are also deeply concerned about the ongoing impact of hostilities on healthcare infrastructure and personnel. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 43 per cent of all attacks against healthcare facilities globally in 2025 occurred in Ukraine. Tragically, nine such attacks have already been documented in the country during the first days of 2026. We deplore the fact that during the recent strikes, one health worker was killed and several other health workers and rescuers were injured. Thirdly, as regards peace efforts, Greece welcomes the progress on the draft peace plan achieved in Geneva and Florida and the recent Paris declaration. We reiterate our call for an immediate ceasefire as a necessary first step towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. We remain committed to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, and we unequivocally reject any change of borders as a result of the use of force. This would set a dangerous precedent with potential repercussions on global security. We emphasize that no peace agreement can be sustainable without the direct involvement of Ukraine and Europe and the full consent of Ukraine, and we also stress the need for credible and enforceable security guarantees to prevent the recurrence of war. Last but not least, we should ensure that the post-war period enables the reconstruction of Ukraine and sets the course for the return of not only peace but also prosperity to the war-torn country. In closing, Greece reiterates its solidarity with the Ukrainian people as they persevere through the fifth harsh winter of hostilities in Russia’s continuing war of aggression against Ukraine. We support the United States-led initiatives to end the war, and we call on Russia to engage in negotiations in good faith and full conformity with international law and the Charter of the United Nations.

I thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo and Director Ramesh Rajasingham for briefing us today, and I welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of Ukraine in our meeting. At the end of last week, Russia launched yet another brutal assault on Ukraine. Ukraine has confirmed that, on the night of 8 January, Russia launched 242 drones and 36 missiles, including an Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) against targets across Ukraine, in particular critical energy infrastructure. As we have heard today, the attack caused the death and injury of dozens of civilians, the deprivation of millions of people of power and heating at a time when the temperatures fell as low as -20oC degrees and additional pressure on vital services, including healthcare and water supplies. Russia’s use of another Oreshnik IRBM should be universally condemned. This hypersonic missile, capable of travelling at above Mach 10, is reported to have hit a site in the region of Lviv, just 50 miles from the Polish border. Such action is reckless. It threatens regional and international security and carries significant risk of escalation and miscalculation. Russia has attempted to justify this escalation by claiming an attack on one of President Putin’s residences. But this claim is false; there was no such attack. This is just another case of Russia’s use of disinformation to justify egregious escalatory activity in Ukraine. Russia’s latest assault came in the same week when President Zelenskyy and the representatives of the United States were in Paris with European and international leaders to discuss peace. President Putin claims to want peace, and yet his actions tell a different story. The rest of the world wants peace in Ukraine — a peace in line with the Charter of the United Nations. We welcome the significant progress that has been made. Together with our international partners, the United Kingdom will continue to work hard towards that goal. Russia’s attacks are clearly intended to erode the morale of the Ukrainian people but their resilience and determination over the past four years remains undimmed. Energy services are already being restored and damaged homes rebuilt. Ukraine will survive this latest attack as it survived so many before. And if President Putin thinks this violence will deter Ukraine’s partners, he is wrong about that, too. We will continue to ensure that Ukraine gets the military and financial support it needs to defend itself, and we will increase pressure on Russia to de-escalate and engage in meaningful negotiations. For the sake of international security and the integrity of the Charter of the United Nations, Ukraine must emerge from this war as a sovereign, secure and independent country.

I extend a special thank you to our two briefers today and a special welcome to Ukraine at this meeting. Just days ago, United States diplomats met with the European Union and Ukrainian counterparts to advance negotiations towards a lasting peace. Thanks to the leadership of President Trump, we are closer to a deal now than at any point since the war began. Despite this, Russia launched more attacks on Ukraine, including its launch of its nuclear-capable Oreshnik ballistic missile, targeting an area of Ukraine close to the border with Poland and NATO. This constitutes another dangerous and inexplicable escalation of this war, even as the United States is urgently working with Kyiv, other partners and Moscow to end the war through a negotiated settlement. At a moment of tremendous potential due only to President Trump’s unparalleled commitment to peace around the world, both sides should be seeking ways to de-escalate, yet Russia’s action risks expanding and intensifying the war. From the start, President Trump has decried the carnage of this conflict. Horribly, we have to continue to deplore the staggering number of casualties — service members and civilians, men, women and children. We condemn Russia’s continuing and intensifying attacks on Ukraine’s energy facilities and other civilian infrastructure. These attacks make a mockery of the cause of peace, a cause of paramount importance to the world and to President Trump. I would like to remind the Russian Federation of its vote in favour of resolution 2774 (2025), nearly one year ago. That resolution called for a swift end to the conflict and lasting peace. It would be nice if Russia matched its words with deeds. In the spirit of that resolution, Russia, Ukraine and Europe must pursue peace seriously and bring this nightmare to an end.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is speaking for the very first time in its national capacity since joining the Security Council and would like, first of all, to extend its warm congratulations to Somalia, which is presiding over the Council this first month of the year. My country also congratulates Bahrain, Colombia, Latvia and Liberia on their accession to the Council and welcomes the briefings by the Under-Secretary- General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and the Director of the Humanitarian Sector Division of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which provided the Council with an updated overview of developments in the situation in Ukraine. Lastly, the Democratic Republic of the Congo welcomes the presence of the Permanent Representative of Ukraine at this meeting. The Democratic Republic of the Congo remains deeply concerned about the continued deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in Ukraine. The prolongation of this conflict only aggravates the suffering of the civilian population and increasingly compromises the prospects for a lasting peace. In this regard, the escalation observed over the past week sharply underscores the urgency, often emphasized in the Council, of prioritizing a solution to the conflict through peaceful means, including through diplomacy and dialogue, in accordance with the principles of international law, international humanitarian law and the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations. In this regard, my country calls upon all parties to strictly respect their obligations under international law and recalls that the civilian population, as well as essential and critical civilian infrastructure, must be protected and preserved in all circumstances. The Democratic Republic of the Congo furthermore urges the parties to guarantee safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access in order to allow humanitarian personnel to provide effective assistance to the civilian population severely affected by this conflict. The Democratic Republic of the Congo remains convinced that there can be no lasting military solution to this prolonged conflict, which today is at a clear impasse, the primary consequence of which remains the heavy toll paid day after day by the civilian population. In that regard, my country welcomes the diplomatic and mediation efforts deployed by international partners, notably the meetings initiated in December by the United States aimed at fostering dialogue and creating conditions for a gradual de-escalation of tensions. Peace, security and the dignity of the populations trapped by these conflicts are a priority for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. That is why we reaffirm our readiness to support any credible initiative aimed at a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ukraine capable of reducing human suffering and preventing any spread or regional spillover of the crisis. In that regard, we encourage all parties to exercise restraint and to work towards de-escalation in order to create a climate conducive to the resumption and continuation of diplomatic exchanges and constructive negotiations that allow the root causes of the conflict to be addressed, in full respect for international law and the Charter of the United Nations. In conclusion, the Democratic Republic of the Congo reaffirms its support for all diplomatic efforts aimed at reaching a negotiated solution that restores peace, security and stability on a lasting basis for the benefit of the populations concerned and the entire region.

At the outset I would like to thank Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, and Mr. Ramesh Rajasingham, Director of the Humanitarian Sector Division of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva, for their comprehensive briefings on the subject of our meeting today. The Kingdom of Bahrain expresses deep regret at the continuation of the war in Ukraine into its fourth year, as military operations are still continuing while civilians continue to bear the greatest burden of this war, and civilian infrastructure is exposed to damage, which undermines the ability to provide basic services at a time when humanitarian needs are increasing. The Kingdom affirms the importance of avoiding any acts that might negatively affect infrastructure, civilian facilities, embassies, diplomatic missions, headquarters of international organizations and civilian objects, in accordance with international customs and covenants, and expresses its regret at the damage sustained by the Embassy of the sisterly State of Qatar in Kyiv. Indeed, the conviction of the Kingdom of Bahrain remains firm that the end of the war in Ukraine lies in the continuation of dialogue and negotiations, complete adherence to the principles of international law, international humanitarian law and the Charter of the United Nations, and the necessity of resolving all conflicts through diplomatic and peaceful means to arrive at political settlements. The Kingdom of Bahrain affirms the necessity of keeping channels of dialogue and communication open and enhancing mechanisms of consultation and coordination among all concerned parties, which contributes to building confidence and limiting hostile acts and their aggravation, and supports efforts to establish peace. My country calls for the intensification of efforts to launch a comprehensive negotiating path aimed at addressing the root causes of the conflict and addressing the security concerns of all parties with the necessary care to guarantee the sustainability of the desired solution. The Kingdom of Bahrain values the diplomatic endeavours undertaken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the State of Qatar, which included efforts for mediation and humanitarian response, including the exchange of prisoners, the provision of relief support and the facilitation of operations to exchange detainees aimed at alleviating humanitarian suffering and preventing the widening of the scope of the conflict. The Kingdom of Bahrain affirms the importance of achieving positive progress in discussions between the parties to the conflict through the mediation of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, regarding it as a substantial diplomatic initiative to arrive at a permanent ceasefire and the realization of stability on the European continent. In conclusion, the Kingdom of Bahrain renews its support for regional and international efforts aimed at finding a comprehensive and permanent political solution to end the Russia-Ukraine crisis, in accordance with the principles of international law, the Charter of the United Nations and resolution 2774 (2025), and in a manner that contributes to the enhancement of security, stability and sustainable peace at the regional and international levels.

We thank Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, and Mr. Ramesh Rajasingham, Representative of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, for their participation and for the valuable information they have provided regarding the situation on the ground. We also take note of the participation of the representatives of the European delegations in this emergency meeting. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is a war that is about to reach its fourth anniversary, with no clear indications that an end is in sight. According to data verified by the United Nations system, in Ukraine, at least 14,533 civilians have been killed since the beginning of the conflict. According to figures reported by the Russian authorities, in the territory of the Russian Federation, 7,269 civilians have reportedly been killed during the same period. These figures, however, do not reflect the extremely high number of military casualties on both sides. Taken together, these figures depict a deeply alarming human tragedy that continues to be a source of grave concern for the international community. It has become a regrettably endless spiral of violence, mourning and suffering. Since the conflict began almost four years ago, the Security Council has met on numerous occasions, including 76 formal meetings, to address this issue. However, owing to the complete absence of political will on the part of the parties, it has not been possible to reach a lasting solution that would bring an end to the ongoing human suffering. Today the Council has been convened once again to consider the same matter. In the context of the recent series of counter-attacks in Ukraine, the attacks have involved not only drones and ballistic missiles, but also, on this occasion, a high- speed, high-capacity hypersonic missile. This attack has not only caused further civilian deaths and significant damage to critical civilian infrastructure but has also inexcusably struck the diplomatic premises of the State of Qatar, resulting in damage. Panama once again urgently calls for restraint, respect for the civilian population and the pursuit of a peaceful solution in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. In the same vein, we are closely following the diplomatic efforts recently proposed by Italy and France and, in particular, the important initiatives undertaken by the United States. All these efforts are aimed at facilitating greater engagement between the parties, with a view to reaching agreement on a political solution that fully respects the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law. These efforts appear to provide a glimmer of hope that, though faint, may help illuminate the path towards an end to hostilities and the protection of the civilian population, allowing an agreement to be reached and laying the foundations for a just and lasting peace.

I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for convening this emergency meeting. I also extend my appreciation to the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and to the Director of the Humanitarian Sector Division and Representative of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva for their comprehensive briefings, which once again reveal the gravity of the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, with an increasingly devastating human toll. Colombia unequivocally rejects the use of force and threats of the use of force, as such actions undermine the territorial integrity and political independence of any country. These acts constitute a direct violation of the fundamental purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law. Likewise, Colombia deeply regrets the reports from various humanitarian agencies of severe harm to the civilian population, including fatalities. In this regard, my country expresses its solidarity with the civilian victims, including humanitarian personnel, and with their families. We are also concerned about the damage to and attacks against infrastructure critical to the civilian population. These incidents must be strongly condemned and must cease immediately. Colombia will unequivocally reject any activity that puts civilians and humanitarian personnel in danger, including medical personnel who work tirelessly and risk their lives to assist affected populations. Respecting and ensuring respect for international humanitarian law in all circumstances and without exception is an obligation of the parties. It is not subject to negotiation. Colombia also reiterates its concern about the impact of the hostilities on women, children, older persons and entire families enduring the extreme conditions of winter. We therefore underscore the urgency of ensuring safe, sustained and unimpeded humanitarian access, as well as respect for infrastructure and goods essential to the survival of the civilian population. It is urgent to adopt concrete measures that lead to de-escalation and to maintain open and functional channels of dialogue between the parties, in order to advance towards a negotiated, peaceful and comprehensive solution that ensures a just, sustainable and lasting peace. The Council cannot remain indifferent to the daily loss of human lives. Colombia urges the parties to refrain from escalating hostilities, as such actions undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts, erode the minimum trust required to advance agreements and further diminish the prospects for a peaceful solution. In conclusion, the protection of civilians, respect for international humanitarian law and the establishment of an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire remain priorities. Accordingly, mindful of the challenges involved in the pursuit of peace, Colombia calls on the parties to choose a negotiated solution in good will and good faith, giving priority to dialogue and the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

I would first like to thank Under- Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo and the Director of the Humanitarian Sector Division of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva, Mr. Ramesh Rajasingham, for their briefings. The situation they describe leaves no room for ambiguity. On the one hand, Ukraine, attacked by Russia, continues to demonstrate its commitment to peace within the framework of efforts to end the war led by the United States and Europe. Ukraine has done so consistently during the numerous meetings held in the United States and Europe in recent weeks. On the other hand, Russia has once again chosen to escalate violence and target Ukrainian civilians. We reiterate our profound solidarity with the Ukrainian people. A few days ago, the Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov, did not hesitate to state that Europeans “were the main obstacle to peace”. But when Russia boasts of launching a nuclear-capable ballistic missile at Lviv, 50 kilometres from the Polish border, which State is truly an obstacle to peace? This is especially so given that Russia claimed this was in response to an alleged Ukrainian attack on a Russian presidential residence — an alleged attack that we all know is a crude fabrication by Moscow, aimed at undermining the peace process at the very moment when it is up to Russia to respond to a carefully prepared proposal by American mediators. When Russia deliberately bombs the electricity, heating and running water networks of major Ukrainian cities in contempt of the Geneva Conventions, what State is truly an obstacle to peace? These strikes are creating a dramatic humanitarian situation for hundreds of thousands of civilians facing freezing temperatures. When strikes hit the Embassy of Qatar in Ukraine in contempt of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, and when Russian drones attack grain vessels in Odesa, jeopardizing global food security, which State is truly an obstacle to peace? It is Russia that, almost four years ago, launched a war of aggression against a sovereign State, in violation of the Charter of the United Nations. It is Russia that, every day, chooses to continue this aggression, even though it could stop it at any time without harming its own security. Russia’s attempts to invert this reality will not succeed with the Council or the international community. Together with its European partners, France will continue over the long term to support Ukraine in exercising its right to legitimate self-defence in the face of the aggression it is suffering and to uphold its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. The robust decisions taken at the European Council on 18 December 2025 bear witness to this, for anyone who might doubt our determination. We are also preparing the terms for a just and lasting peace. This was precisely the purpose of the Paris Summit of 6 January 2026, which brought together 35 member States of the coalition of the willing, Ukraine and the United States, in order to commit ourselves to a system of collective security guarantees for Ukraine as soon as a ceasefire enters into force. Indeed, any settlement must be underpinned by robust security guarantees for Ukraine, in order to prevent any new Russian aggression. Together with the Secretary-General, with the vast majority of the international community and with Ukraine, France reiterates its call for a complete, immediate and unconditional ceasefire, as the Russian war of aggression has continued for nearly four years. We call on Russia to listen to these voices from across the globe, to cease its aggression and to choose genuine dialogue over delaying tactics. France will continue to work tirelessly, alongside all its partners, for a just and lasting peace.

I would like to join colleagues in thanking Under- Secretary-General DiCarlo and Director Rajasingham for their briefings. Next month will mark four years since the start of the conflict in Ukraine. The international community has been deeply perturbed by the continuing relentless hostilities, leaving behind a trail of death, destruction, economic losses and immense human suffering, as we have also heard in today’s briefings. We are alarmed by the recent intensification in fighting with escalation in attacks from both sides, further worsening the already dire humanitarian situation. Such actions not only perpetuate the conflict, but they also undermine trust and the ongoing efforts for peace. Protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure is a fundamental obligation and the foundation of the principles of international humanitarian law, which must be upheld fully by all sides. The reported damage to the Embassy of Qatar in Kyiv is regrettable. The protection of diplomatic missions and the safety of its personnel is an obligation under international law. From the outset, Pakistan’s position has been anchored in an unwavering conviction — the supremacy of dialogue as the only viable path for lasting peace. Now more than ever before, the overwhelming global opinion is on the side of ending this conflict through peaceful means. This can be achieved only through a sustained, meaningful and structured dialogue. Diplomacy and genuine engagement, we have seen, have delivered in the past, as demonstrated by the Black Sea Grain Initiative in July 2022. Earlier, in Istanbul, the two sides were seemingly very close to an agreement within weeks of the start of the conflict. Resolution 2774 (2025) of February 2025 presented another opportunity that should have been seized in earnest by all sides to bring about a swift end to the conflict. Resolution 2788 (2025) adopted in July 2025 further reinforced the imperative of the peaceful settlement of disputes. Fortunately, the window for peace is still there. We commend the efforts by many countries, particularly the United States, to resolve of this conflict, giving primacy to dialogue. We hope that all sides will make full use of the ongoing diplomacy, demonstrate genuine political will and engage constructively to make meaningful strides towards a peaceful and negotiated settlement of the conflict, starting with an immediate ceasefire. We hope that these efforts will lead to a just and lasting settlement acceptable to all sides that is in line with the Charter of the United Nations, international law and relevant multilateral agreements, and that corresponds to the security interests of both Ukraine and Russia and ensures peace and stability in Europe. The imperative to deliver millions from agony must remain paramount. For this, the path forward should be guided by sagacity, mutual understanding and our collective concern for humanity. Pakistan supports all efforts aimed at resolving the issue peacefully in a comprehensive and durable manner.

We are under the impression that some of the elected Council members came to the Council pursuing a single priority: to serve as a mouthpiece for lies of the party of wars and accuse Russia of all ills, completely ignoring the causal links that are precisely the reason for the deepest crisis in European security. They believe that they are blameless. Our supercilious ex-partners have never seen and still do not see the plank in their own eye. They suffer from political colour-blindness, seeing everything in black and white. The Russian army carried out one massive and four group air strikes between 3 and 9 January, which resulted in damage to transport, airfield, port and energy infrastructure facilities that sustained the Ukrainian military-industrial complex, as well as temporary deployment sites of the Ukrainian troops and foreign mercenaries. This was done in response to the attack waged by the Kyiv regime on the Russian President’s residence and civilian infrastructure in our country. The strike was carried out using the Oreshnik missile system, against which there is no air defence protection so far. Our Western colleagues keep telling us about civilian casualties, but most of the casualties were caused by the operation of Ukraine’s air defence, which is something that everybody, including Ukrainians, is well aware of. All these vociferous but wholly unfounded allegations about targeted Russian attacks on Ukrainian families peacefully sleeping in their homes are not supported by any facts or evidence. The Russian armed forces do not fire on civilians. At the same time, our Western colleagues completely disregard the crimes of the Kyiv regime, which deliberately strikes Russian regions, civilian objects and civilians. In December 2025 alone, strikes by the Armed Forces of Ukraine injured at least 367 and killed 56. Against this backdrop, we are constantly struck by the muted response from the international community, especially the Secretary-General, which has become par for the course. Refusing to clearly qualify such actions as terrorist acts and dismissing them as unconfirmed facts means jettisoning the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians and the prohibition of deliberate strikes on civilian targets. However, as soon as Russia deploys its armed forces against the Ukrainian armed forces and its installations, emotions start to run high and are followed by unequivocal comments from the Secretary-General and his Spokesperson. Such selective blindness is, unfortunately, characteristic of the leadership of the United Nations Secretariat. The lack of response by the so-called “collective West” and the main Western media outlets’ utter disregard for the tragedy have sadly become routine. It amounts to condoning the Kyiv regime’s terrorist actions and to complicity therewith. After all, responsibility for what is happening lies not only with those who pull the trigger but also with those who have encouraged impunity for years, supplied weapons and provided political cover for such actions. This is what the billions allotted to Ukraine from the pockets of European taxpayers are actually being spent on. And sooner or later, those who aided and abetted these acts will have to take responsibility for their actions. We have repeatedly said that not a single hostile action by the neo-Nazi clique hunkered down in Kyiv will go without a proper response on our part. One particularly egregious case is the latest horrific terrorist attack against civilians in the village of Khorly, a resort town in Kherson Oblast. Civilians — families with children, locals and visitors — had gathered in a hotel café to ring in the 2026 New Year. At that very moment, Ukrainian terrorists deliberately struck the place where they had gathered. As a result of the terrorist attack, 29 people, including two children, perished, and more than 30 were injured. We have not the slightest doubt that this heinous attack was premeditated and deliberate. Before the strike, a reconnaissance drone had circled over the population centre for a long time. This confirms, once again, that the Ukrainian side knew exactly where and whom it was striking. The attack was carried out almost at the stroke of midnight, precisely when the building was full of civilians. For those who do not know, the village of Khorly is located in a resort area on the Gorky Kut peninsula, which is surrounded on three sides by the Black Sea. It lies behind the so-called “red line”. There are no military installations there, nor have there ever been. The former seaport has long since lost significance, and the area is being developed exclusively as an area for leisure, with children’s camps, recreation centres and tourist infrastructure. This despicable terrorist attack stands out for its particular cynicism. While the media controlled by the President’s Office was broadcasting the New Year’s address to the nation and false calls for peace by the leader of the Kyiv regime, who is long past his expiration date, fighters from the armed forces of Ukraine were deliberately killing civilians. We are no longer surprised by the narrative that we heard today in this Chamber from those who, deploying their beloved double standards, request Security Council meetings on Ukraine while hypocritically turning a blind eye to the ruthless killings being carried out upon the orders of the Zelenskyy regime, which is mired in terrorism, corruption and lawlessness and seeks to sponge as much money and weapons as it can off its European puppet masters for Zelenskyy and his inner circle. This terrorist attack, far from being an exception, is but one of numerous instances of the Zelenskyy regime’s inhumane crimes against peaceful Russian citizens, which Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo at least mentioned today. However, as usual, the United Nations cannot verify them. In the Belgorod region, 500,000 people were left without electricity, but the United Nations cannot verify this. Neither the coalition of the willing’s failed French summit nor the advance of NATO forces towards Ukraine’s borders will help the Ukrainian clique. We have repeatedly spoken about the possible consequences of their presence in Ukraine. Whereas many have recently boasted about it, the threat of it was largely the trigger for the special military operation, as was our desire to end the war being waged by the Kyiv regime against its own people. It will also not help to make entreaties for a truce in the hope of some respite from crushing battlefield defeats. And no help will come from Zelenskyy’s preposterous conditions that do not factor in reality — something with which he has long lost touch — and that he puts forward in response to proposals from the United States, in effect reducing them to naught. All of a sudden, the European Commission has started talking about how, at some stage, the European Union will have to engage in dialogue with Russia. One is tempted to ask where they have been all this time. We have never turned away from dialogue. They were the ones who, again, arrogantly believed that it would not come to that, as a strategic defeat would be inflicted on Russia. Until the Kyiv leader comes to his senses and agrees to realistic terms for negotiations, we will continue to resolve the issue militarily. Long ago, he was warned that the conditions for negotiations would only worsen for him with every day that he squanders. And each vile attack on peaceful Russian citizens will elicit a robust response.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Somalia. At the outset, I thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo and Director Rajasingham for their comprehensive briefings. Our delegation remains concerned about the continued deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in Ukraine. The ongoing hostilities serve only to prolong the suffering and further diminish the prospects for a sustainable peace. We are also troubled by the escalation of military actions affecting civilian areas and critical infrastructure. The protection of civilians, in particular the most vulnerable, and the preservation of critical infrastructure are obligations enshrined in international humanitarian law. We reiterate that all parties to the conflict must respect and uphold these principles without exception. We express our regret at the recent attack on the diplomatic premises of the Embassy of the State of Qatar. We call for the protection of all diplomatic and consular premises, as established in the Vienna Convention. We remain convinced that there can be no military solution to this protracted conflict. Dialogue and diplomacy remain the only means to bring this crisis to an end. We note with encouragement the ongoing diplomatic initiatives to secure a just and lasting peace. These diplomatic engagements represent vital steps towards de-escalation, and we hope that they will lay the groundwork for a constructive path forward, including a comprehensive ceasefire. We call upon all sides to seize this diplomatic momentum, exercise utmost restraint and commit to genuine negotiations. A durable resolution must address the underlying root causes of the conflict and be consistent with international law and the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. In closing, my delegation reaffirms its unwavering support for all diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a resolution that restores peace, security and stability. The Ukrainian people and all those affected by this conflict deserve a future defined by peace, prosperity and dignity. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I give the floor to the representative of Ukraine.

I thank the presidency of Somalia for convening today’s meeting, as well as the delegations of Denmark, France, Greece, Latvia, Liberia and the United Kingdom for their support of Ukraine’s emergency request. I am also grateful to Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Director Rajasingham for bearing witness of new horrendous war crimes and crimes against humanity that Russia committed in the past weeks against the civilian population in Ukraine. We praise the leading role of the United Nations in providing humanitarian aid to those who have suffered. Every time the international community believes that Russia has reached the limits of lies and barbarity, Moscow once again outdoes itself finding the way to sink even lower and proving that there is no bottom of its criminal intent. Russia deliberately waited until early January, when the temperatures in Ukraine plunged to -15°C, to unleash some of its most devastating drone and missile strikes against our energy infrastructure, pushing millions of civilians to the very edge of freezing. What we are witnessing these days echoes some of the most infamous precedents in human history when evil empires sought to break civilian resistance by weaponizing cold, hunger and darkness. From ancient sieges to medieval winter blockades, history teaches us that deliberately depriving civilians of heat, light and the means of survival is among the most appalling methods of warfare. The horrific consequence of Russia’s brutal attacks was that millions of peaceful Ukrainians, including my family in Kyiv, are left for days without electricity, heating or water supplies at a time when the temperatures at night are approaching -20°C. This new horrifying wave of terror, also inflicted earlier last week against many other cities across Ukraine, including Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Kryvyi Rih and Odesa, reflects the determination of Putin to deliver a slap in the face of United States mediators and continue his barbaric war. The reason I recall the horrors of the Second World War is not accidental. Ukrainians are among the most significant victims of Nazism. Eighty years ago, the terrible war that raged on our soil claimed the lives of up to 10 million Ukrainians. Next month Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine will enter its thirteenth year and its fifth year since the full-scale invasion of 2022. It has now lasted longer than the war between the Third Reich and the Soviet Union — 1,418 days. Therefore, when we compare the Second World War to Russia’s military invasion now, the parallels are becoming increasingly shocking, not only with regard to the sheer duration of Moscow’s brutal war against Ukrainian statehood, but also in terms of the scale of destruction and, tragically, in the mounting toll of human suffering. Russia’s systematic crimes that we are witnessing day and night have reached an unprecedented level. The Council can no longer ignore this outrageous war. Every single day that the Security Council fails to act to end Russia’s war brings more victims. Apart from the barbaric scorched-earth tactics that Russia’s troops are employing against the Ukrainian population, there is another reason that Ukraine requested this emergency meeting. During the night of 9 January, Russia not only launched one of the deadliest strikes of missiles and drones against Ukrainian cities, but it also employed, for the second time, an intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile system called “Oreshnik” against my native region of Lviv, situated just a few dozen kilometres from the United Nations-NATO border. Since this weapon can carry a nuclear payload, such a blatant attack represents a clear threat to the security of the European continent, undermining regional stability and posing serious risks to broader international peace. Russia has spiralled into a new level of escalation. The fact that Russia is now attempting, as we just heard, to justify again the cynical strike by referring to a fake attack, which never occurred, on a Putin residence, is just absurd. But there is nothing new in this approach. Russia began its war of aggression against Ukraine under a fake and fabricated pretext. Russia’s claim regarding a Putin residence, which is ridiculous, is reminiscent of the Gleiwitz incident on 31 August 1939, when Adolf Hitler staged a false-flag attack on a radio station to justify invading Poland. The perfidious logic is identical. The aggressor State fabricates a casus belli where none exists. Let me be clear: this so-called attack on a Putin residence is an absolute lie. The true purpose of Russia’s assault with its alleged Wunderwaffe — Oreshnik — is brutally clear: intimidation of Ukraine’s allies and partners. Dmitriy Medvedev, former President of Russia and now Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, directly confirmed this in his X post, commenting in a prison-like jargon, “The ruling European dimwits want a war in Europe after all. It’s been said a thousand times: Russia won’t accept any European or NATO troops in Ukraine, but no, Micron keeps peddling this pathetic bullshit. Well, come on then. This is what you’ll get”. ”. And then Medvedev joyfully shared a video of the Oreshnik strike in the Lviv region. Putin claims that this high-technology Oreshnik missile cannot be intercepted. This is just a joke. This so-called superweapon he boasts about is little more than just a trinket. Our experts, who analysed the remnants of this missile, found a gyroscope of the very same type that Yuri Gagarin used in his flight into space over 60 years ago. Russia uses this brutality against Ukraine as a display of power in an attempt to threaten the international community. Russia wants to sell to the Council and to the whole United Nations family the impression that it is invincible, but that is another illusion. The carefully staged image of strength is nothing but smoke and mirrors, completely detached from reality. The Russian leadership is like a game player holding the worst possible hand, yet Putin keeps a perfect poker face pretending that he has an ace up his sleeve. In reality, Russia’s cards are extremely weak. Russia’s position is getting more fragile every day, and its bluff is evident. The Kremlin used to puff up its cheeks and flex its muscle, but it is all just a fig leaf hiding the weakness of the Russian war machine, which is inevitably approaching its critical point. What Russia tries to project as strength is, in fact, nothing else but a manifestation of vulnerability reflecting its failure to achieve strategic military goals on the battlefield. Let me present the Council with just a few facts that will demonstrate that Russia is losing this war. It is not a question of if, but of when. Russia's economic and social foundations are under immense strain. Growth is fully dependent on defence procurement rather than genuine economic productivity. The year 2025 was a breaking point of Russia’s economy, which saw a dramatic shift from short-term wartime growth to long-term economic stagnation. Initially, following the invasion, Russia benefited from high global commodity prices and a spending fuel boom, but these factors have now disappeared. The combination of weak growth, rising taxes and reduced revenues points towards a deteriorating economic ability to further finance this war. With reserves depleting and structural damage accumulating, most experts agree that the Russian economy is — and will remain — at its weakest point since the turbulence of the late 1990s. The year 2025 showed that Russia’s economic growth, driven by wartime spending, cannot be sustained indefinitely. Russia’s military production temporarily propped up its gross domestic product (GDP) in the first years after the large-scale invasion, but the economic boost from militarization has now completely faded. In late 2025, the GDP growth slowed to 0.1 per cent. For 2026, the International Monetary Fund forecasts very weak growth of the Russian economy, projecting around 0.6 per cent of GDP. It is expected to stagnate with persistently elevated inflation. That underscores the steep slowdown from Russia’s 4.3 per cent GDP growth back in 2024, which had been fuelled by heavy wartime spending. Such structural stagnation is projected to persist well beyond 2026 due to today’s war- driven pressures. Until 2025, growth rested on a sharp rise in State spending, which increased by roughly a quarter in 2024, but this driver disappeared last year, and there is no obvious catalyst to revive growth in 2026. Last year, for the first time since the pandemic, Russia collected less budget revenue than originally planned. When this budget was approved, revenues were set at around $500 billion, but updated forecasts suggest that they will come in closer to $447 billion. This marks a break from the previous three years, including 2024, when revenues consistently exceeded initial projections. This led the Kremlin to order higher tax collection to sustain war spending. Tax increases and revenue declines indicate that the war is largely financed by shrinking domestic economic activity rather than robust trade surpluses. Last time we met on this topic, one month ago, we spoke about oil and gas (see S/PV.10050). These two factors have historically funded between 30 and 50 per cent of Russia’s federal budget and a large share of war financing, but last year these revenues fell by at least a quarter. The year 2026 is likely to bring another year of weak budget incomes for Russia. The World Bank expects a global oil supply surplus to push Brent crude oil prices down from an average of $68 a barrel to around $60 a barrel this year, the lowest level in five years. Russian Urals crude has also been trading below historical levels. Independent trackers reported even lower prices in early January, with Urals near $35 a barrel — the lowest in many years. Additional pressure has been brought to bear on the Russian budget and energy sector by new sanctions imposed by the United States in October against its two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil. Moscow is being forced to agree to ever-larger discounts on oil sometimes to more than $30 per barrel. Following the introduction of new United States sanctions, Russia’s oil and gas revenues in December fell by almost 50 per cent, compared to the previous year. While the so-called shadow fleet has helped Russia accumulate up to $100 billion in annual revenue, it has not stopped export revenue declines overall. Increased seizing and sanctioning of such vessels and recent legal actions against them signal even greater constraints ahead. The United States and its partners have sanctioned Russian tankers as a part of measures targeting the primary source of war funding. As a result, shipments in the week of 4 January fell to 3 million barrels a day, the lowest since August. On the monetary side, the Central Bank of the Russian Federation was forced to raise interest rates to a record high of over 20 per cent to curb rapid inflation. This reduced corporate profits, as businesses stopped investing. Production in some industries fell sharply, and corporate debt rose rapidly. Economists point to the potential of a banking crisis by November 2026 as a result of the expansion of corporate lending in the first few years of the war. Russian bankers themselves sounded the alarm about the growth of problem loans, with some even stating that many companies are in a pre-default state. Russia’s reserves — and hence its ability to absorb economic shocks — look large on paper but are strategically constrained and fragile. As of late 2025, the Central Bank reports $720 billion in international reserves, yet a large part remains frozen in Western jurisdictions. Of the accessible portion, 40 per cent is held in gold, an illiquid asset that is under sanctions and is difficult to monetize at scale. Russia’s national wealth fund, the true fiscal buffer for deficits, has been heavily depleted from $145 billion pre-war to $35 billion by mid-2025. Ongoing budget deficits of roughly 3 to 4 per cent of GDP, driven by military spending and weaker energy revenues, mean that the fund is being drawn down to plug gaps rather than invest, with credible projections that it could be largely exhausted in 2026 if conditions persist. Economic problems are severely affecting the purchasing power of Russia’s population. A recent report by Russian Sberbank showed that consumers began tightening their belts and reduced their spending. Financial difficulties caused by the economic crisis have forced Russians to take out quick loans that they cannot repay. But this war has also created a true demographic shock for Russia. Just imagine this figure — since Putin began his war in February 2022, there have been more than 1.2 million Russian casualties killed or wounded. Last year Russia was losing an average of 1,200 soldiers a day — 50 soldiers an hour, or almost one soldier per minute. Therefore, during this emergency meeting of the Security Council, around 100 Russian soldiers will, most probably, have lost their lives. These losses have consequences for the Russian economy as well. About 70 per cent of Russia’s casualties are men aged from 20 to 39, the core male labour and fertility cohort. Simultaneously, around 900,000 of Russia’s youngest and most educated have emigrated since 2022, removing precisely the workers with the highest productivity and tax contribution. As a result, Russia entered 2026 with an estimated labour shortage of 6.5 million workers, projected to widen to 11 million by 2030. This shrinks the tax base while raising pension, healthcare and compensation costs, structurally degrading Russia’s capacity to finance both a modern economy and a prolonged high-intensity war. These developments create a systematic economic effect that makes it difficult, if not impossible, for Russia to cover ongoing war costs without deepening economic pain at home. Sustaining such a protracted resource-intensive conflict requires consistent robust revenue streams, and current trends show that these streams are on the verge of collapse in 2026. It is precisely this catastrophic state of Russia’s economy that is driving Moscow to issue ultimatums and use Oreshniks and other ghosts to coerce the international community into accepting its terms for ending the war. It is Russia that finds itself in a zugzwang. Let me reiterate: Ukraine will continue to seek peace — a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on international law and grounded in the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. Ukraine remains fully committed to the peace process initiated by United States President Donald Trump. We commend the mediation efforts of the United States and the active diplomatic efforts of our European and other partners that seek to pave the way for genuine peace. Last weeks were marked by intensive shuttle diplomacy in Florida and in Paris, with the personal engagement of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. What we see, though, is that Russia is deliberately derailing these peaceful initiatives. In conclusion, I first appeal to our allies and partners, which have been strongly helping Ukraine. All the available air defence systems and missiles in stockpiles must be transferred immediately in order to protect civilians and energy infrastructure from Russian bombs. We also need long-range weapons to neutralize future attacks. We call upon our allies to introduce additional sanctions and increase economic pressure on Russia, including tougher measures targeting the shadow fleet, so as to further restrict energy revenues and hamper Moscow’s ability to acquire critical components for weapons production. We also wish to appeal to all those United Nations Member States that have thus far remained neutral and continue to claim that sanctions are unacceptable or useless. This is an erroneous approach. They are highly effective, despite their imperfect implementation. The medicine is working. It is the dose that should be increased. As long as Russia keeps abusing its veto power and blocking the Security Council, coordinated sanctions are the only way to push Moscow towards peace. Russia resembles the Soviet Union in its final years of decline before it imploded. It is not an expanding superpower but a rigid, overextended system burdened by unbearable military expenditures and internal decay. No one expected the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to crumble overnight, yet it happened. The historic parallels with present-day Russia are strikingly similar. Today’s Russia is like a colossus with feet of clay, and it is only a matter of time before this entire house of cards collapses. Our message to Russia is therefore very simple. I will voice it in the Russian language, since Russia has claimed that this language is being prohibited or discriminated against in Ukraine: (spoke in Russian) “That is it, guys. They have come ashore. They should dry their oars and weave their bast shoes.” The game will be over for Russia very soon.

I now give the floor to the representative of Poland.

I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting promptly in response to yet another escalatory action by the Russian aggressor. I also wish to thank Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo and Director Rajasingham for their valuable briefings. As we all heard, on Friday we witnessed brutal attacks on Ukrainian residential areas and critical infrastructure. The city of Lviv, not far from the border with my country, Poland, was targeted by a Russian intermediate-range ballistic missile called “Oreshnik”. The systematic nature of Russian attacks demonstrates a deliberate strategy to inflict suffering on the civilian population by targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure and leaving millions of people without electricity and heating during bitter winter conditions. Poland expresses its full solidarity with Ukraine and the families of the victims. We call on Russia to stop the war immediately. These attacks are being accompanied by a characteristic Russian fog of disinformation. Russian propaganda, even today, keeps attempting to justify the strike by claiming it was carried out in response to the alleged drone attack on Putin’s residence — an incident that we all know never took place. Russia’s deadly strike and disinformation come at a time of intensified United States-led diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war. This conduct is unacceptable, harmful and deserves the strongest condemnation from the international community. In this context, let me underline three points. First, Russia is not interested in achieving peace. And that is clear. The goals of the Kremlin and Putin remain unchanged, regardless of the peace efforts of the international community: the destruction of Ukraine and its complete capitulation. Russia also seeks to achieve this by discouraging continued international assistance to Ukraine. Under these circumstances, we cannot afford to reduce our support. On the contrary, it is essential to continue providing Ukraine with both military and non- military assistance in order to strengthen its position in the peace negotiations and to make clear that Russia’s ultimate goals cannot be achieved. Therefore, let me underline that those countries that continue to support Russia in any form are directly or indirectly fuelling this war. Against this backdrop, sanctions imposed by the European Union, the United States and their partners are exerting significant pressure on Russia’s war economy, as we just heard. Poland supports the adoption of additional restrictive measures. We urge all countries that continue to import Russian oil to cease doing so, and that will contribute to ending the aggression. We also welcome the decisive stance in enforcing sanctions against Russia’s illegal trading practices and its use of a so-called shadow fleet. Secondly, Russia’s aggressive stance is responsible for the unprecedented arms buildup in Europe. This compels countries like Poland to increase defence spending in order to protect their citizens and sovereignty. We would much prefer to allocate these resources to sustainable development and international cooperation. However, Russia leaves us no choice and continues to divert the world away from the objectives that should unite us all. Thirdly, in addition to regular threats, Russia is intensifying hybrid attacks across the region and against NATO member States. We call on the Security Council to take this hybrid warfare seriously and to send a clear signal that this dangerous trend cannot be tolerated and must be stopped. We call on the Security Council to prevent any potential regional spillover. Poland will continue its goodwill participation in the peace efforts. At the same time, we will further extend necessary support to Ukraine. We encourage all partners to do the same — for the sake of a just and lasting peace and for the future of the international community.

I now give the floor to the representative of Lithuania.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the three Baltic States — Estonia, Latvia and my own country, Lithuania. We also align ourselves with the statement to be delivered on behalf of the European Union. Once again, for the fourth consecutive new year, we are forced to begin the year by condemning Russia’s brutality, its violations of international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, and its rejection of multiple calls for peace by the General Assembly, the Security Council and the International Court of Justice. Regrettably, even amid the colossal efforts by Ukraine, the United States and Europe to achieve a just and lasting peace, we are meeting here today because Russia, despite all these international efforts, is escalating its brutal war of aggression against Ukraine in an attempt to disrupt the peace process. Russia used an intermediate-range ballistic missile called “Oresnik” against Lviv, in close proximity to the European Union and NATO borders, and launched over 200 drones and missiles against the capital of Kyiv and other cities overnight on 9 January, deliberately targeting energy facilities, civilian infrastructure and even diplomatic missions amid the bitter cold. This is yet another escalation by Russia. The use of a nuclear-capable ballistic missile sets a dangerous precedent that not only threatens the security of Ukraine and Europe but also undermines global peace and security. The use of such systems increases the risk of escalation and miscalculation. Moreover, Russia’s ongoing missile and drone attacks pose grave risk to nuclear safety in Europe. The protective shield over Chornobyl’s nuclear reactor has already lost its primary safety functions, as verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency after Russia’s attack last year. Supported by Belarus, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Iran, but also fuelled by shadow fleet tankers’ illegal oil trade and the supply of dual use technologies, Russia is expanding its aggression, including by engaging in hybrid actions across Europe and elsewhere. As countries neighbouring Russia that still have vivid memories of what living under Russia’s occupation is about, the Baltic States have been providing multifaceted support to the Government and the people of Ukraine. We reiterate our call on the international community to discontinue all assistance to Russia that enables its aggression. The Baltic States strongly condemn Russia’s deliberate attacks on the civilian population in Ukraine. We urge Russia to respect its commitments under international humanitarian law and to protect civilians and humanitarian personnel in all circumstances. We reaffirm our full support to Ukraine in standing up to Russia’s terror and call on all to increase pressure on Russia in order to force it to the negotiating table. In line with the General Assembly resolution on the return of Ukrainian children, adopted at the eleventh emergency special session, on 3 December, concrete action must now be taken to protect the rights, safety and well-being of the children of Ukraine, especially those possibly deported to and illegally adopted in Russia and Belarus, in order to ensure their safe return and the accountability of perpetrators. We demand full accountability, including implementation of the International Criminal Court arrest warrants issued on 17 March 2023 against Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova over allegations of involvement in the war crimes of child abduction during Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia must heed the call for peace by President Trump and the international community and immediately cease its illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression. The Baltic States reaffirm our unwavering support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

I now give the floor to the representative of Romania.

The Council continues to overwhelmingly call for peace in Ukraine. While sustained diplomatic efforts by the United States, Ukraine and Europe have intensified lately, Russia has yet to show a genuine will to stop its illegal and unprovoked war of aggression. In recent days, new innocent lives were lost as the deliberate targeting with missiles and drones of Ukrainian civilians in civilian areas continued, in violation of international humanitarian law. Millions of Ukrainians were deprived of essential services, including electricity, heating and water amid a harsh cold spell, as a result of the weaponization of winter. Another foreign diplomatic mission in Kyiv sustained damage, once again demonstrating the reckless nature of these attacks and disregard for international law. Romania joins the Secretary-General, Council members and other United Nations Member States in strongly condemning the continued Russian targeted attacks against civilians and civil infrastructure in Ukraine, including strikes in Kyiv and the Lviv region. These are unacceptable under international law and must stop. We reiterate our solidarity with the Ukrainian people, and we remain determined in supporting Ukraine in ensuring accountability and justice for these brutal attacks. There is no justification for responding with escalation and terror against civilians while the whole world now expects Russia to match Ukraine’s proven commitment and engagement in peace efforts. The use of an Oreshnik intermediate- range ballistic missile against civil infrastructure, as well as in close proximity to the borders of the European Union and NATO, was escalatory and constitutes a serious threat to regional and international security and stability. This is not what is expected from a responsible permanent member of the Security Council. Instead, it is high time to put an end to this senseless war of aggression. Intense diplomatic efforts by the United States, Ukraine and the European Union in the past weeks brought progress in the pursuit of the goal of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. An immediate ceasefire, to which Ukraine already committed, remains a significant first step. And it remains imperative to keep up pressure to stop this war, including through sanctions and concerted action against Russia’s shadow fleet. Security in the Black Sea remains of concern for us, as well, as Russia has stepped up attacks on ports in the Odesa region. Alongside its partners in the coalition of the willing, Romania remains engaged in ongoing diplomatic efforts, led by the United States, towards a just and lasting peace. Robust and workable security guarantees for Ukraine is the element that will define such a peace in the face of an aggressor with a historical record of relapsing into breaches of international law. We extensively informed the Council about Romania’s comprehensive efforts in supporting Ukraine and addressing the global consequences of Russia’s aggression. And Romania will continue to bring its contributions to securing peace and reconstruction in Ukraine. We reiterate our continued support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territory integrity within its international recognized borders. The achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace needs to be in line with the Charter of the United Nations and those principles. Peace must not reward the aggressor.

I now give the floor to Mr. Lambrinidis. Mr. Lambrinidis: I thank the Somali presidency for convening this meeting. I thank the briefers for their updates. Allow me to use this opportunity to warmly welcome the Council’s new members. We meet as Russia continues to escalate its war of aggression against Ukraine in ever more brutal ways. In recent days, and while peace talks intensify, Russia has intensified its own attacks in Ukraine, cynically striking civilian energy, heating and water infrastructure in the midst of winter and deliberately targeting civilians, including women, children and humanitarian workers. On Thursday, Russia struck Ukraine with a reported 242 drones and 36 missiles, among these — as we have heard many times in the Chamber today — an Oreshnik hypersonic missile targeting Lviv, just 60 kilometres from the Polish border, where it hit residential buildings and energy infrastructure. The Qatari Embassy was also damaged. Russia has also significantly stepped up attacks on the city and port of Odesa, a crucial hub for global food security. This is an unacceptable escalation and a further sign, if any were needed, that Russia has no interest in ending its war of aggression and stopping the killing. The European Union (EU) recalls that intentionally directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects, as well as launching indiscriminate attacks, constitute violations of international humanitarian law and amount to war crimes. This violence, this open aggression, this war, has been going on and on for four years. As we approach the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, an illegal and unprovoked military action, all efforts should be geared towards achieving a just and lasting peace. Russia appears to believe that it can justify its actions and, at the same time, pretend to be committed to peace. It cannot. And, as if this were not enough, it complements the charade by continuing to spread false claims, including that Ukraine allegedly attacked a Putin residence, to distract attention from its years- long and escalating brutality. The reality, which is plain and simple for all to see, is that while Russia escalates, Ukraine is committed to peace. It already agreed to an immediate ceasefire nearly a year ago and continues every day to advocate for a just, lasting and comprehensive peace, in line with the decisions of the General Assembly and the Charter of the United Nations. The reality is that peace talks have been intensifying and have made progress in spite of Russia’s intransigence. The European Union will sustain these diplomatic efforts with Ukraine towards a just and lasting peace, in accordance with international law, together with the United States and other partners. We urge Russia to agree to a full, unconditional and immediate ceasefire and call on all members of the Council to rally behind this objective and to push Moscow to engage in meaningful negotiations. The Security Council should exert maximum diplomatic pressure on the only country that openly violates resolution 2774 (2025) in order to stop the killing. Third countries — and actors and entities therein — that continue enabling Russia’s war of aggression must 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. For peace to be just and lasting, borders must not be changed by force — not in Ukraine, and not anywhere. Any future agreement must respect Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, and it must guarantee Ukraine’s long-term security and ability to defend itself. In this regard, the EU and Member States are ready to contribute to robust and credible security guarantees for Ukraine, notably through the coalition of the willing and in cooperation with the United States. This will include supporting Ukraine’s ability to deter aggression and defend itself effectively. I close by reaffirming the European Union’s continued and unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. In coordination with our allies, we will continue to pursue an immediate ceasefire and a just and lasting peace and to provide comprehensive political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people.