S/PV.9940 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Norway, Poland 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: Mr. Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and Americas, Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations; and Ms. Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations and Advocacy, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I also invite His Excellency Mr. Stavros Lambrinidis, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I now give the floor to Mr. Jenča. Mr. Jenča: Since we last briefed the Council on developments in Ukraine, three weeks ago (see S/PV.9924), fighting has continued to intensify on the ground, enveloping new geographic areas and prompting further displacement of the civilian population. We have witnessed unrelenting, large-scale Russian aerial attacks on Ukrainian cities and towns, resulting in a significant rise in civilian casualties. On the night of 16 to 17 June, Russian drones and missiles hit seven districts in Kyiv, killing at least 28 civilians and injuring more than 130 others. That was one of the deadliest attacks on the capital in nearly a year. According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, rescue workers spent all night trying to rescue dozens of trapped residents from under a partially destroyed nine-storey residential building, which had reportedly been hit by a Russian ballistic missile. Many people are still reported missing under the rubble of the 35 apartments destroyed that night. That is the story of just one residential building in one neighbourhood of one city. That night, Odesa, Zaporizhzhya, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr, Kirovhrad, Mykolayiv and Kyiv Oblast were also reportedly attacked with more than 428 drones and missiles. In Odesa, two civilians were reportedly killed and scores injured. Those levels of death and destruction risk dimming hope for an immediate ceasefire and threaten to undermine prospects for a lasting peace. According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, since the start of Russia’s illegal, full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, at least 13,438 civilians, including 713 children, have been killed. The confirmed number of civilians injured stands at 33,279, including 2,092 children. In the first five months of 2025 alone, the number of civilian casualties in Ukraine totalled 5,144, with 859 killed and 4,285 injured. That figure was 47 per cent higher than in the same period in 2024. That dramatic increase is a result of intensified use of long-range weapons, both missiles and loitering munitions, against cities across Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian authorities, between 1 and 17 June 2025, Russian armed forces launched at least 3,340 long-range drones, including loitering munitions and decoy drones, and 135 missiles into Ukraine. By comparison, 544 long-range munitions were launched during the entire month of June 2024. Let me once again unequivocally state that attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure are strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law, wherever they occur. We condemn all such attacks. They must cease immediately. My colleague, Director Wosornu, of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, will provide updates about the impacts on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. Since our most recent briefing, important diplomatic developments have taken place on the challenging path towards a lasting peace in Ukraine. On 2 June, Ukrainian and Russian delegations held their second face-to-face meeting in Istanbul, where they reportedly exchanged written memorandums outlining their respective visions for a ceasefire and parameters for a future peace settlement. The talks also resulted in an agreement for large-scale exchanges of prisoners of war, of mortal remains and of civilian detainees. The exchanges have been carried out in phases in the weeks since then. Earlier today, the latest round of exchanges of severely sick and wounded took place. It followed several rounds of all-for-all exchanges of youth aged 25 years and younger, starting on 9 June. Further exchanges are expected. As at 16 June, the mortal remains of 6,057 Ukrainian servicepersons and 78 Russian servicepersons were also reportedly returned by the sides. We welcome those exchanges and encourage them to continue so that all remaining prisoners of war and civilian detainees soon return home. Those efforts provide answers to many families who have lived in uncertainty about their loved ones, reunite prisoners of war and civilian detainees with their families and allow those who have been subjected to dire conditions in captivity to return to safety. We welcome the continuation of all meaningful diplomatic efforts, including the recent talks in Istanbul. We urge the sides to make tangible progress towards a ceasefire and a lasting settlement through continued talks. The United Nations position remains principled, in support of a just and lasting peace in line with the Charter of the United Nations, international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions and of Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, within its internationally recognized borders. The Secretary-General has called for a complete, immediate and unconditional ceasefire as an important first step to that end. As we are facing renewed escalation on the ground and crisis elsewhere, it is critical to maintain focused attention on the urgent need for peace in Ukraine. We must redouble the efforts to ensure that the fragile diplomatic process is not only sustained but becomes irreversible. The United Nations stands ready to support all meaningful efforts to that end.

I thank Mr. Jenča for his briefing. I now give the floor to Ms. Wosornu. Ms. Wosornu: I welcome the opportunity to brief the Council on Ukraine today alongside Assistant-Secretary-General Jenča. Since the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs briefed the Security Council just three weeks ago (see S/PV.9924), civilians, as Council members have heard, have found no respite from continuing violence. Daily waves of missile and drone strikes continue to exact a devastating toll, particularly on the front lines. As Assistant Secretary-General Jenča mentioned, a combined drone and missile attack overnight between 16 and 17 June was reportedly Kyiv’s deadliest in nearly a year, killing more than two dozen civilians and injuring more than 100. Ukrainian authorities have also reported finding evidence of the use of cluster munitions, as Council members heard. Residential buildings and critical infrastructure across the city were damaged or destroyed. In Odesa, attacks reportedly injured multiple civilians and damaged a kindergarten and a centre for children with special needs — places that should offer safety and protection. In Zaporizhzhya, strikes on residential areas have terrorized families in their own homes. Hostilities in the front-line regions of Kherson, Kharkiv and Donetsk and in the border areas of Sumy continue to cause extensive damage and displacement. Communities in those regions are traumatized, exhausted and rapidly running out of resources, as relentless attacks destroy homes and livelihoods. Civilians continue to bear the severe consequences of this war. Again, as was highlighted, the human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine reports that long-range missiles and drones have significantly contributed to high levels of civilian casualties across the country this year. Nearly 50 per cent more civilians have been killed and injured in Ukraine in the first five months of 2025 than during the same period in 2024. The Mine Action Service of the United Nations estimates that more than 20 per cent of Ukraine’s land is contaminated by mines or unexploded ordnance, making it the most heavily contaminated country since the Second World War. Demining efforts to clear agricultural land, led by the Government of Ukraine and supported by humanitarian partners, enable families to safely return to farming and rebuild their livelihoods. However, given the current levels of contamination, those efforts are expected to continue for many years. Humanitarian workers also face growing threats. In 2025, to date, 68 incidents of violence affecting humanitarian personnel, assets and facilities have been recorded. Two aid workers have been killed, and 24 have been injured while delivering assistance. In addition, unverified reports indicate civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure in the Kursk and Belgorod regions of the Russian Federation. As we have consistently emphasized, under international humanitarian law, constant care must be taken to spare civilians — and again, Assistant Secretary- General Jenča has highlighted that — including, of course, humanitarian workers and civilian objects, such as homes, schools and humanitarian assets. The reported use of anti-personnel landmines and cluster munitions is of special concern because of their notorious indiscriminate and long-term effects. Those weapons must be relegated to the past. Furthermore, in the light of recent announcements to withdraw from the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, the Secretary-General recalled this week that when civilians face heightened risks from widening conflicts, it is imperative that we strengthen the frameworks that protect human life and dignity. We will persist in our engagement with the parties and Member States to that effect. As the war continues, millions of lives are affected every day, essential services are disrupted, and vulnerabilities are deepening for nearly 13 million people in need of assistance. Approximately 3.7 million people remain internally displaced, including 60,000 newly displaced from front-line regions since January alone. There are almost 6 million Ukrainians registered as refugees globally, mainly in Europe. Amid intensifying hostilities, the Government of Ukraine continues to decree the mandatory evacuation of families with children from front-line villages, most recently in the Kharkiv region. However, for some people living in those regions, As the Council has heard us say before, women and children, as in many crises around the world, are disproportionately affected, especially in displacement settings. Sexual violence has been documented throughout the war, yet healthcare facilities and safe spaces in rural areas affected by the war are often ill-equipped to respond to survivors. Essential women’s rights and survivor-led organizations operate on limited funding. We remain unable to reach an estimated 1.5 million civilians requiring humanitarian assistance in parts of the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhya regions under occupation by the Russian Federation. International humanitarian law demands that the parties facilitate the rapid and unimpeded access of humanitarian relief for civilians in need, wherever they are. Despite an operating environment beset by multiple risks and serious challenges, humanitarian operations in Ukraine continue to forge ahead, and humanitarians remain committed and engaged. In the first five months of 2025 alone, more than 450 humanitarian organizations, largely national non-governmental organizations, reached an estimated 3.4 million people with life-saving assistance. Aid delivery has focused on providing food and livelihoods support, emergency water, essential medicines and emergency health services. The objective is to reach those most at risk and most in need, centring on four core response priorities — people near the front line, evacuations, emergency response after strikes and aid to the most vulnerable among the internally displaced people. We thank donors for their generosity. Thanks to them, some $816 million — or 31 per cent of the $2.6 billion needed for the 2025 Ukraine humanitarian needs and response plan — has been secured. Timely financial support is vital to ensure humanitarian operations can continue for those most in need. I conclude by renewing our calls earlier to the Council for urgent, collective action on Ukraine. First, we must protect civilians, including humanitarian and health workers; safeguard civilian infrastructure; and ensure safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to all civilians in need. Secondly, we must sustain financial support. Declining funding trends are forcing programmes to close, even as the operational context remains volatile and grows more complex and dangerous. Additional resources are urgently needed to save lives and prepare for the winter. Thirdly, we must end this war and, until then, ensure that humanitarian concerns are a central part of discussions on a pause in fighting or longer-term agreement.

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

I thank you, Madam President, for giving me the floor and for convening this meeting. I too thank Assistant Secretary-General Jenča and Director Wosornu for their briefings. Since our last meeting (see S/PV.9924), we have been witnessing a relentless barrage of drones and missiles on Ukrainian cities. Night after night, civilians Those attacks culminated this week with Russia’s aerial strikes on Kyiv. The massive aerial attack hit densely populated neighbourhoods and critical civilian infrastructure. With more than 100 civilians killed or injured, it was the deadliest attack on the capital of Ukraine in almost a year. Throughout the last year, this war has been escalating at an accelerated pace. As Director Wosornu said in her briefing, nearly 50 per cent more civilians have been killed and injured in the first five months of this year than during the same period in 2024. To illustrate, in the attack on Kyiv last Tuesday, Russia used almost 500 munitions in a single night. Last year, Russia used approximately the same amount throughout the whole month of June. Those attacks are an obvious violation of international humanitarian law, and Slovenia condemns them in the strongest possible terms. All of this is occurring while diplomatic efforts to ensure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine are under way. Those attacks are not only a display of bad faith in the midst of negotiations, they are an expression of unwillingness to compromise, an attempt to intimidate until maximalist terms are accepted, terms that would tear the very fabric of the Charter of the United Nations. While we welcome all diplomatic efforts towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, the results of contacts between Ukraine and Russia to date are underwhelming to say the least. Russia keeps meeting Ukraine’s efforts towards a ceasefire with missiles and drones. We are confident that today, in this Chamber, we will once again hear a nearly united voice — a voice unwavering in its call for a ceasefire, a voice that says: the time is now. We are waiting for just one more to join.

Let me also thank Assistant Secretary-General Jenča and Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Director Wosornu for their briefings. We meet today because Ukraine has endured another three weeks of death, destruction and misery under a relentless blitz of drones, missiles and bombs. After tens of thousands of Ukrainian civilian casualties in this illegal aggression, it becomes ever harder to single out an individual attack. Nevertheless, the air attacks overnight on 17 June were especially savage. As we heard, that night a reported 440 drones and 30 missiles were fired at Ukraine’s cities. Kyiv bore the brunt. At least 24 civilians were killed and 134 injured. And last night, Odesa was once again hit by Russian drones, with reports of at least one civilian killed and 14 injured. As we speak, rescuers are searching the rubble for survivors. Those direct hits by drones and cruise missiles on high-rise residential blocks further undermine Russia’s claim that its armed forces only attack military targets. We convey our condolences to the people of Ukraine, a country once again in mourning, remembering the latest civilians killed in that illegal war of aggression. Russia’s air attacks came as the Group of Seven leaders were gathered in Canada to discuss the war, with repeated calls for Russia to accept Ukraine’s offer of an immediate, unconditional and complete 30-day ceasefire. It has long been clear  — while Ukraine is ready for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire and substantial peace talks, Russia plays for time and continues its senseless war with undiminished ferocity. Actions speak louder than words. Over the last three weeks Russia has chosen to act in the most cynical way, both in pursuing its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in Ukraine has repeatedly offered an immediate, unconditional and complete 30- day ceasefire. We call on Russia to accept that offer, and to do so now. Denmark will continue to stand with Ukraine, for as long as it takes, as it fights to achieve a just, sustainable and lasting peace in line with the United Nations Charter.

We are grateful to Guyana for convening this meeting. At the outset, I would also like to thank Assistant Secretary-General Mr. Jenča and Director Ms. Wosornu for their informative yet worrisome briefings. This war needs to stop. Instead of genuinely embarking on the path to peace, through negotiations initiated by the United States, Russia has strayed from it and has intensified its attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, causing immense human suffering and leading to further regional and global destabilization. In the context of another countrywide assault, on 17 June Russia launched the deadliest attack on Kyiv in almost a year, causing at least 28 deaths. The total verified figures are gruesome and incontrovertible. Russian attacks have caused 50 per cent more casualties in the first months of 2025 than in the same period last year. Civilian infrastructure is constantly targeted, with residential buildings, schools, health facilities and port infrastructure sustaining substantial damage. We deplore any attacks against civilians and civilian objects. We commend once more the work of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and other humanitarian organizations active in Ukraine and we call for their full, safe, and unimpeded access to the areas where their work is most needed. The world is watching events unfold in Ukraine. The overwhelming majority of United Nations Members have repeatedly condemned Russia’s war of choice against Ukraine. We need to collectively discourage imitators of that aggression and reject in practice the idiom that “might makes right’’. Greece insists on the need for accountability for the perpetrators of violations of international humanitarian law and justice for the victims. In that respect, we commend the work of international judicial institutions and stress the latest striking findings of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine. Greece welcomed recent peace efforts, which led to two rounds of direct bilateral talks between the sides. We also welcome the exchange of prisoners of war, captives under the age of 25 and fallen soldiers, which was agreed bilaterally, as a sign of progress. Yet what is needed is to treat not the symptoms but the disease, and this can be done only by putting an immediate end to the hostilities that led to it. What we need now is peace. No peace efforts can have any substantial results if hostilities continue. We regret the fact that both rounds have confirmed the significant distance between the two sides and that Ukraine’s willingness to agree to an immediate ceasefire was not reciprocated by Russia. We call on Russia to heed the calls of the majority of the international community and take the decisive first step of agreeing to a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire on the path towards a just, comprehensive and lasting peace, in line with international law and the Charter of the United Nations and with full respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

At the outset, I thank Mr. Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, and Ms. Edem Wosornu, Director of the Operations and Advocacy Division, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, for their briefings and for the United Nations efforts to help the victims of this war. Irrespective of its public statements, Russia’s aim has not changed and remains that of subjugating Ukraine. Russia does not want peace. Its deeds speak volumes. Since the Council’s most recent resolution (resolution 2774 (2025)) urging immediate peace  — and for which Russia voted (see S/PV.9866)  — that country has, many months later, resumed its indiscriminate attacks and bombings against Ukraine and its people with unprecedented intensity. Let us begin there. Rescue workers found 23 dead in the rubble of the building in the Solomianskyi district of Kyiv, which was struck by a Russian missile on 17 June. The pictures of the gutted building are reminiscent of those of the buildings in Vinnytsia, the Kramatorsk train station, the paediatric hospital in Kyiv, the printing press in Kharkiv, a shopping mall in Kostiantynivka, a playground in Kryvyi Rih and a shopping street in Sumy. The strikes on Kyiv, just Monday night into Tuesday, reportedly claimed a total of 28 lives. They were among the deadliest since the Russian aggression against Ukraine began on 24 February 2022. Those deaths are no accident. They are not the collateral damage of the destruction of military objectives. Civilians are being targeted. They died because Russia is pursuing a strategy of terror in a bid to bring Ukraine to its knees. They died because Russia is targeting civilian infrastructure and the Ukrainian population and is deliberately targeting densely populated urban areas. They died because Russia is wantonly taking its revenge for the Ukrainian people’s heroic resistance to its quest to invade and is violating international law in the process. The Council must condemn those violations of international humanitarian law, call on Russia to end them and remind Russia of its obligations under the Charter. Russia continues to obstruct the ceasefire to which Ukraine agreed more than 100 days ago and for which the entire international community is calling. Its attitude during the two meetings in Istanbul leaves no doubt as to the true value that it places on starting direct talks. On 16 May, Russian sent a lowly delegation with no power to negotiate, even though the Ukrainian President had proposed direct negotiations between Heads of State. On 2 June, through that same delegation, it transmitted a memorandum enumerating a series of one-sided, maximalist conditions for a ceasefire. To stop the fighting, Russia demands that Ukraine accept the annexation of the invaded provinces, that it give in to demands that amount to jeopardizing its security and its right to self-defence and that it agree to arrangements that would set us back 33 years. Those conditions are tantamount to demanding Ukraine’s capitulation. They are unacceptable. The Council must persistently underscore that to be genuine, peace must be just and must respect, as the Charter of the United Nations requires, the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Now, as it did on 7 October 2023, Russia would like to capitalize on the escalation in the Near and Middle East in order to distract from its aggression. On the one hand, it is stepping up its lethal strikes in Ukraine, on the other it is futilely claiming to be acting as mediator in the conflict between Israel and Iran. This fresh attempt at diversion will fail, as preceding attempts did. No amount of tumult in the world will distract us from the fact that Russia, by invading Ukraine, is violating the Charter Almost one year ago to the day, more than a hundred countries met in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, to jointly determine the bases for a just and lasting peace. The Russian President, on 14 June 2024 — the eve of the opening of the conference — had already set Ukraine’s surrender as a precondition for talks. As the General Assembly has unambiguously underscored on numerous occasions — and I will repeat it — peace must be just, that is to say, it must comply with international law and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and must be sustainable, meaning that it must include robust security guarantees for Ukraine. France will continue to strive for that peace, alongside the Ukrainian people, who have consistently opted for peace, despite the aggression to which they are subjected. On 24 February, Russia voted in favour of resolution 2774 (2025), whereby the Council called for a swift end to the conflict. How did Russia proceed following the voting? It pursued, with renewed intensity, its attacks on Ukrainian territory, which, in the opinion of some, may constitute war crimes. It has reiterated all its aims in Ukraine and the maximalist conditions that it is setting for an end to the fighting. It is high time that that come to an end. It is high time that Russia give effect to the Council’s demands and for which Russia voted. Dame Barbara Woodward (United Kingdom): I would like to start by thanking Assistant Secretary-General Jenča and Director Wosornu for their helpful briefings. We are convened here, again, in response to Russia’s continuing and intensifying attacks against Ukraine. On 11 June, Russia struck a power station in Kherson, plunging the city into rolling blackouts and disrupting access to clean water. On 15 June, Russia reportedly damaged energy facilities in Poltava oblast, and on the nights of 16 and 17 June, Russia conducted a devastating assault on the city of Kyiv — the third largest nationwide strike of the war — raining hundreds of drones down on densely populated residential areas. The civilian death toll is at least 28, with hundreds injured. We extend our condolences to all those affected. Attacks and civilian deaths have continued in the nights following. Those attacks are not decreasing, and they are not random. They are part of a deliberate and intensifying campaign of violence against civilian targets, calculated to deepen the suffering of the Ukrainian people. On top of that, Russia continues to peddle false narratives, seeking to justify its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but there can be no justification for what it has done. It has been 101 days since Ukraine agreed to an unconditional ceasefire, and it is now reported that Russian military casualties have reached 1 million. These dreadful milestones keep piling up, and yet Russia shows no sign of stopping. While Ukraine has actively engaged in genuine steps towards peace, Russia has engaged in destruction. Meanwhile, President Putin poses as a mediator of peace in the Middle East. We do not need more false promises. We need genuine peace. So, again, we call on Russia to comply with international law, including the Charter of the United Nations. We call on Russia to agree an unconditional ceasefire. Russia initiated this war; we call on Russia to end it.

At the outset, I would like to extend my gratitude to Assistant Secretary-General Jenča and Director Wosornu of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for their briefings. I also welcome the representative of Ukraine to today’s meeting. As we meet today, Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, which has continued for more than 1,200 days, remains ongoing. During this prolonged and brutal conflict, more than 46,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed or Three days ago, on Tuesday, Russia launched a massive barrage of drone and missile attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. They hit residential neighbourhoods in Kyiv, killing at least 28 civilians and injuring more than 100 additional civilians. Let us again be clear: those deliberate, large-scale attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure constitute clear violations of international law and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. In the midst of those grave circumstances, we note that, on 3 June, Ukraine and Russia held their second round of direct talks in Istanbul. Both sides committed to a large-scale exchange of prisoners of war who were under the age of 25 or severely wounded, and to the return of the remains of more than 6,000 fallen soldiers. While those talks did not produce any political or military breakthrough, they signalled the existence of a narrow but important humanitarian channel and some semblance of trust-building. Ukraine has expressed its readiness for a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire. What is needed is an immediate end to hostilities to prevent further unnecessary casualties on both sides. Despite our collective hope for this senseless war to end without further delay, we are witnessing troubling signs to the contrary. The continued build-up of Russian forces near the border is raising fears of a potential massive summer offensive. Adding more fuel — or troops — to the fire only serves to contradict any genuine will for a ceasefire. In that context, North Korea and Russia have intensified their illegal military cooperation, with yesterday marking the first anniversary of the signing of their so-called comprehensive strategic partnership. Top Russian security official Shoigu has visited Pyongyang three times in the past three months. Following his most recent visit this week, Russia announced the plan to dispatch an additional 6,000 North Korean combat engineers and military construction workers to the Kursk region. Far from meeting the expectations of the international community, the continued illegal military cooperation between Russia and North Korea not only prolongs the conflict in Ukraine but also increases security risks on the Korean Peninsula by enabling North Korea’s involvement in modern warfare and accelerating its military modernization. We express our grave concern about the ongoing unlawful cooperation between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Russia, in a flagrant violation of Security Council resolutions. We call on Russia to immediately cease preparations for seemingly renewed aggression and to choose the path of genuine negotiations to end the war. In conclusion, the longer this unforgiving war continues, the greater the damage — not only to lives and livelihoods, but also to regional security, international peace and the foundational principles of the Charter of the United Nations. We implore the international community to continue to push for an end to this senseless war.

I thank Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča and Director Edem Wosornu for their briefings, and I welcome the representative of Ukraine. In the overnight hours of 16 and 17 June, Russia launched one of the largest strikes against Ukraine’s capital since the start of its full-scale invasion, including 440 drones and 32 missiles. The attack killed at least 24 people in Kyiv and injured at least 115. And I have noted that some here today have estimated even higher casualty numbers for killed and wounded. We join others in extending condolences for those lost. I can confirm that one of those killed was a United States citizen, the We have seen media reporting on video footage and impact assessments indicating that Russia used cluster munitions. In this month alone, Russia has already launched more than 3,300 one-way attack drones and is on track to deploy nearly 6,000 killer drones. There is no justification for Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s cities. Russia is killing Ukrainian civilians when it should be doing the exact opposite — ending the war. Russia must stop the killing of civilians and the destruction of their homes, schools and playgrounds. It has now been 116 days since the Council adopted a resolution imploring a swift end to the conflict and urging a lasting peace between the Russian Federation and Ukraine (resolution 2774 (2025)). Russia’s actions, however, oppose that goal. Today, we reiterate our call on Russia to negotiate in good faith towards a ceasefire and a lasting, durable peace. We urge all countries, including China, to stop exports to Russia of dual-use goods that contribute to Russia’s war industrial base and enable its drone and missile attacks against Ukraine. We further condemn Iran for providing Russia with Shahed drones and missiles and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for transferring to Russia munitions, missiles and troops. Those are prolonging the war and increasing suffering in both Ukraine and Russia. Russia must now turn towards peace. Enough is enough. End it now.

I thank Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča and Director Edem Wosornu of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for their briefings. The devastating conflict in Ukraine has dragged on for far too long, leaving a trail of destruction, human suffering, displaced families and the shattered lives and livelihoods of millions of people in its wake. We remain deeply concerned by the continued humanitarian and security consequences of this protracted conflict. We note with regret the recent escalation seen in fighting between the two sides, with a disproportionate impact on civilians and civilian infrastructure. Equally distressing, if not more so, is the fact that the momentum for peace generated through arduous and bold diplomatic initiatives and negotiations facilitated by the United States, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, including the adoption of resolution 2774 (2025) earlier this year and the limited ceasefire understandings, could not yield a lasting impact. The fragile foundation of hopes for peace laid down by the diplomatic efforts requires consolidation. Pakistan is an ardent and resolute supporter of peace. We have always favoured the path of diplomacy, dialogue, mediation and engagement, and advocated for resolving disputes and differences through peaceful means. However, dialogue and diplomacy without a genuine commitment from all parties involved cannot deliver the desired results. As we have repeated on numerous occasions, the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure is a fundamental obligation under international law and must be respected by all parties without exception. Military means will not resolve this conflict. The failure to seize the opportunities afforded by dialogue will only prolong the suffering of millions and exacerbate global instability. That serves no one’s interest. Pakistan reiterates its firm belief that only meaningful dialogue and diplomacy can deliver sustainable peace. We welcome the direct talks between the Russian Federation and Ukraine, including agreements on prisoner exchanges, as steps in the right direction. However, those efforts are Pakistan’s position on the Ukraine conflict has remained clear and consistent. From the outset, we have advocated immediate de-escalation to prevent further loss of life; meaningful negotiations, addressing mutual security concerns, within the framework of the Charter of the United Nations; and inclusive and constructive diplomacy, involving key regional and international stakeholders to pave the way for a just and lasting peace. In conclusion, peace is an imperative — a humanitarian necessity and the only path to avert pushing the world towards the brink of catastrophe. Pakistan reiterates its firm support for a peaceful resolution of this conflict and stands ready to back all efforts towards a peaceful resolution anchored in the principles of the United Nations Charter, international law and the relevant multilateral agreements, and which addresses the legitimate national security interests of all sides.

Panama thanks Guyana for convening this meeting, in view of the serious and sustained deterioration of the situation in Ukraine, the product of an armed conflict that has had devastating humanitarian consequences, as we have repeatedly denounced in the Council. We appreciate the detailed briefings of Mr. Miroslav Jenča and Ms. Edem Wosornu, who have provided valuable and substantive information on the situation on the ground. We also thank and take note of the presence of the representatives of Ukraine, Lithuania, Germany, Norway, Italy, Poland and the European Union. We meet today in the midst of an international context marked by a worrisome trend — the expansion of violent conflicts that are displacing diplomacy as the main means to resolve differences between States. That regression has weakened the fundamental norms of international law, undermining confidence in the multilateral system and, particularly, in the credibility of the Council. Panama knows, from its own experience, the consequences of the violation of international law and sovereignty. We therefore unequivocally condemn all forms of aggression between States that threaten international peace and security. The international community cannot resign itself to the normalization of war as a method of conflict resolution. The leadership required at this historic moment calls for courageous and coherent decisions in line with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. Panama recognizes the importance of maintaining open channels of communication between the parties. For that reason, we welcome the recent diplomatic efforts between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. However, those attempts cannot be seen as genuine progress when, at the same time, deliberate attacks on urban centres and critical civilian infrastructure are intensifying. The continuation of this offensive, with the deployment of missiles and drones, is a clear sign that there is still no real commitment to a de-escalation of the conflict. Sitting down to dialogue while attacks continue undermines confidence in any negotiation process. The first inescapable step towards peace is an effective cessation of hostilities. Without that basic commitment, any diplomatic effort is doomed to fail. The protection of civilians must be at the heart of any credible negotiation. In that regard, Panama firmly calls on the Russian Federation to accept a proposal for an immediate, verifiable and sustainable ceasefire, which would create real conditions for progress Respect for international law and international humanitarian law is not optional. It is an inescapable duty, both in times of peace and in times of war. It represents the minimum prerequisite for civility between nations and the only guarantee that humanity will prevail, even in the midst of conflict. We reiterate that a just and lasting peace in Ukraine will only be possible if its sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence are fully respected, in accordance with the Charter of this Organization.

At the outset, I would like to thank Mr. Miroslav Jenča and Ms. Edem Wosornu for their valuable briefings. The situation in Ukraine remains critical, as the military confrontation continues between Russia and Ukraine. The situation still threatens international peace and security and is deeply complex, inevitably having a negative effect on any prospects for a breakthrough between the parties. The ongoing military operations continue, unfortunately, to claim innocent lives, including women and children, exacerbating human suffering and causing casualties. The numbers of displaced persons who are struggling to survive continue to rise, and infrastructure is increasingly being destroyed, diminishing the possibilities of survival or recovery. In that regard, Algeria reiterates its expressions of deep concern at the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure — it violates the rules of international law, including international humanitarian law. We must also state that the impact of the war continues to negatively affect different regions of the world, in particular developing nations, owing to the disruption of supply chains and the economic shocks that have affected food and energy markets. In that context, we would like to focus on the following points. First, Algeria reaffirms the need to prioritize the protection of civilians, who bear the brunt of this war and are most vulnerable to suffering. Civilian infrastructure must be protected, and we call for respect for international obligations in that regard. Civilians must be spared from the cycle of violence and destruction. Secondly, we would also like to reiterate the need for the parties to commit to inclusive, constructive and ongoing dialogue, to refrain from escalatory acts that undermine the prospects of a peaceful settlement and to avoid polarization that will only fuel division and impede any prospect of a peaceful resolution to the conflict. We call for an urgent resumption of dialogue and direct negotiations by both parties, as that is the only way to achieve sustainable peace. In contrast, warfare has proven to be a failure in achieving any real progress towards a ceasefire or a peaceful settlement of the conflict. Thirdly, we encourage the ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at bridging the differences between the parties, and we reiterate our call on the international community to create the conditions for negotiations and facilitate constructive dialogue to ensure a peaceful settlement and continued consultations and coordination between the parties as a step towards establishing lasting peace. In conclusion, Algeria reiterates its commitment to joint efforts in support of any diplomatic efforts that promote dialogue, understanding and consensus to reach a just and lasting peaceful solution that meets the aspirations of both parties, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and takes into account the legitimate security concerns of the parties in order to maintain international peace and security. Sierra Leone is alarmed by reports of continuous strikes on heavily populated areas of Ukraine, including between 16 and 17 June, when 440 drones and numerous missiles struck residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure in the capital city of Kyiv, according to a letter addressed to the Council from the Permanent Representative of Ukraine. Those attacks on Kyiv and other regions in Ukraine have resulted in numerous civilian deaths and injuries. The intensification of the conflict with the use of long-range missiles and loitering munitions in residential areas has had a devastating impact on civilians and civilian infrastructure. The human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine has reported that at least 183 civilians were killed and 836 injured from Russian attacks in May, and that disturbing trend has continued into this month, with a reported launching more than 1,500 long-range weapons into Ukraine since 6 June. Retaliatory attacks by Ukraine have also resulted in civilian deaths and injuries and infrastructural damage in Russia. We urge all parties to prioritize the protection of civilians and critical infrastructure to prevent further harm and ensure the restoration of essential services for the well-being and stability of the civilian population. Today, on World Refugee Day, we remember the millions of Ukrainian refugees scattered across Europe and other regions who have lost their homes and livelihoods in the conflict. With millions of people requiring life-saving assistance, including food and clean water, there is an urgent need to resolve the conflict. We urge both parties to actively engage in good-faith negotiations. Talks facilitated by the United States, which have resulted in the exchange of prisoners of war, are a positive confidence-building measure that can be built upon. The recent exchange of prisoners of war, which have also included the exchange of the remains of soldiers, numbering more than 6,000, are a sad reminder of the human cost of the conflict. It is imperative that direct talks between the parties address the possibility of an unconditional ceasefire, as the starting point for a just and lasting peace. As dire as the situation seems, we maintain hope that the willingness both parties previously demonstrated will continue, and they will engage in dialogue. Sierra Leone remains committed to supporting efforts towards a diplomatic solution to the conflict, noting that there are opportunities for good faith negotiations on a ceasefire at this very juncture. We call for the full respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders and for the legitimate concerns of all parties to be taken into account. In conclusion, we reiterate our call for increased funding support for humanitarian aid responses for civilians caught up in the conflict. As that and other conflicts around the world intensify, so do the victims and the need for the life-saving support provided by United Nations agencies and other humanitarian organizations increase. Let us honour the bravery of humanitarian workers who work tirelessly for a just and peaceful world, with many paying the ultimate price, and restore the dignity and rights of civilians by agreeing to a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

Today we are once again witnessing a parade of European countries who are seeking to make their so- called invaluable contribution to the discussion by repeating identical narratives and parading themselves on television screens and in the news feeds of their countries. The European Union (EU) members, except Norway, of course, have a representative Our world is changing rapidly, but some things remain unchanged. Among them is the obstinance of our European colleagues, who persistently insist on calling Security Council meetings on Ukraine instead of addressing the situation in Gaza or the looming large-scale regional war and other pressing crises triggered by Israel’s reckless attack on Iran. Their main objective also remains unchanged: to smear Russia and attempt to sustain the unconvincing narrative of Ukraine as an innocent victim and Russia as a treacherous aggressor. At the same time, London, Paris, Brussels and Berlin are not even bothering to look for ways to resolve the Ukrainian crisis; their interest lies solely in prolonging the conflict as long as possible to bleed Russia dry. In that regard, their views completely concur with the priorities of the expired Ukrainian prince, who understands that peace in Ukraine would mean the end of his personal power and his ability to rob his country blind. Nor does he want to be held accountable for embezzling billions of dollars of Western aid and stealing budget funds from his fellow citizens. Therefore, we are once again forced to listen in this Chamber to fairy tales about big bad imperialist Russia and be distracted by disinformation and outright lies. The formal pretext for all Western meetings on Ukraine is the accusation that Russia is allegedly targeting civilians, even though the evidence proves otherwise. Today the pretext was a downed missile hitting the entrance of an apartment building in Kyiv, which the Zelensky regime is desperately trying to portray as a deliberate Russian strike. However, much to the consternation of the stage actor in Kyiv, as was the case on many previous occasions, videos shot by ordinary Ukrainians surfaced online, exposing the false claims of the Ukrainian authorities and their Western backers. People are now openly mocking the new unconvincing attempts by the ringleader of the Kyiv junta and wondering why such tragedies always seem to occur right before his trips abroad. This time the Ukrainian air defence acted in a criminal manner on the eve of his trip to the Summit of the Group of Seven Industrialized Countries. There are other videos that clearly show that Russian strikes targeted exclusively military facilities or objects directly related to Ukraine’s military capabilities. On that day, in Kyiv, Russia hit military industrial facilities, air defence systems, military warehouses and gathering points for security forces. Similar sites were being targeted by the missile that was shot down by the Ukrainian air defence systems stationed in residential areas in violation of international humanitarian law. Those strikes also destroyed ammunition depots, as well as an airport where Western Patriot air defence systems were located, which resulted in powerful explosions, a secondary detonation and a fire, which are clearly visible in videos posted online by Ukrainians. The National Aviation Institute in Kyiv was also hit for the clear reason that a so-called Ukrainian volunteer had boasted on social media about storing drones for the Ukrainian armed forces in a building located in the heart of a residential area and included photos in his post. Using civilians as human shields has already become a trademark of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. For example, images from Kupyansk, which came to light online recently, clearly show Ukrainian forces using apartment buildings and private homes to deploy drones. Furthermore, the Spanish newspaper El País reported on The falsehood of our Western colleagues’ statements is compounded by their deliberate silence on the crimes committed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine against civilians in Russian regions. However, there is much to discuss in that regard. Unlike the Russian Aerospace Forces, which carry out precision strikes on targets related to Ukrainian military capacity, the Ukrainian forces have long been known to target residential areas and use people as human shields. In the past week alone, from 9 to 15 June, there were 104 civilian casualties as a result of shelling by Ukrainian Nazis. Some 96 people were wounded, including 14 minors, and eight people were killed, including 1 minor. More than 1,600 rounds were fired at civilian targets in Russia by Ukraine’s Armed Forces. Moreover, dozens or even hundreds of drones are launched daily at civilian objects in the Russian Federation. The glaring silence, inaction and sometimes direct or tacit approval on the part of a number of European States do nothing but effectively encourage the Kyiv regime to further escalate the situation. As a result, we see their methods change and increasingly take on the characteristics of organized terror against civilians and civilian objects. Those terrorist methods were clearly exemplified by the targeted attacks on passenger trains in the Bryansk, Kursk and Voronezh regions of the Russian Federation on 31 May, 1 June and 5 June, which killed seven civilians and injured more than 100. We proposed a draft resolution condemning those terrorist attacks. However, Western countries took a remarkably cynical stance, refusing to condemn those blatant acts of terrorism. They even blocked the Council’s standard statement expressing sympathy for the victims. Instead of condemning terrorism, they tried to portray a blown-up passenger train as a legitimate military target, which is not only inhumane but also contrary to international law. That position demonstrates dangerous politicization, whereby the fight against terrorism becomes a tool to apply double standards rather than a universal principle. In addition, we have once again seen that the West, rabid with Russophobia, sees nothing wrong with killing Russian citizens. If it were American, British or French citizens, the reaction would be completely different. Those terrorist attacks committed by the Kyiv regime should be viewed in a broader context. There is no doubt that that series of terrorist acts, as well as first- person view drone attacks on strategic airfields in the Murmansk, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Ryazan and Amur regions on 1 June, were intended to disrupt the second round of peace talks on 2 June in Istanbul and provoke the Russian leadership into large-scale retaliatory actions, which could have been used to solicit new handouts from the West. However, Kyiv’s plan fell through, and our delegation arrived in Istanbul on the scheduled day. During the direct Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul, we presented our draft memorandum on a peaceful settlement. It consists of two parts — the conditions for a comprehensive lasting peace and the conditions for a ceasefire. The memorandum is based on the fundamental principles announced by the President of Russia in June 2024, which we have repeatedly discussed, including in this Chamber. That is the best offer Ukraine can get today, and we advise it to accept it, as things will only get worse for Kyiv from here on out. In Istanbul, we also managed to agree on a large-scale exchange of prisoners of war, primarily the wounded, the seriously ill and those under the age of 25. In addition, we handed over the bodies of more than 6,000 deceased Ukrainian servicemen to Kyiv. That humanitarian gesture by Russia has put the Kyiv regime in a bind because such a large number of bodies reveals the true scale of losses of During the second round of talks in Istanbul, we also discussed the issue of children. Contrary to the bombastic claims of tens of thousands of abducted children, which have been repeated not only by Western countries but also by reputable international organizations that apparently do not value their reputations, the list provided by Kyiv contains only 339 names. That clearly shows that this sensitive issue has been drastically exaggerated and simply turned into political propaganda. Let us note once again that, in reality, there are no mass deportations and so-called child abductions. Rather, children have been evacuated from the combat zone by authorized Russian agencies, and many children have already been returned to their homes. Of course, all the information provided to us will be thoroughly examined and, if confirmed, the children will be returned to their families. From the very beginning of the special military operation, Russia has remained open to dialogue and to finding ways to resolve the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis peacefully. We reaffirm that position today. The only thing that can still save Ukraine from complete disaster is to immediately proceed with constructive and realistic negotiations, the next round of which we propose holding in Istanbul after 22 June. We are grateful to our American colleagues, who have consistently supported our direct dialogue with Ukraine. We hope that the European sponsors of the Kyiv regime will also give Ukraine a chance, rather than persist in doing their utmost to continue this war until the last Ukrainian.

I thank Assistant Secretary- General Miroslav Jenča and Director Edem Wosornu for their briefings. Recently, Russia and Ukraine held the second round of direct negotiations in Istanbul and reached consensus on such issues as the exchange of seriously injured soldiers and the remains of fallen soldiers and facilitating the return of separated children to their families. Currently, related efforts are ongoing. China welcomes those positive developments, encourages both sides to hold a new round of negotiations and supports all peace efforts. At the same time, China is deeply saddened and concerned about Russia and Ukraine’s continued large-scale drone and missile attacks against each other, which have caused heavy civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure on both sides. As an old Chinese saying goes, three-foot-thick ice does not form overnight. The Ukraine crisis has dragged on, involving complex and intertwined issues and affecting the vital interests of all parties involved. Achieving a ceasefire and restoring peace is not easy and still requires the sustained and relentless efforts of the international community. I would like to emphasize three points. First, every effort must be made to protect civilians. Civilians, especially women and children, are the biggest victims of war. Parties to the conflict should strictly comply with international humanitarian law and avoid attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure under any circumstances. Secondly, it is essential to sustain the momentum of peace talks. Lasting solutions to end conflicts are ultimately achieved through negotiation. China encourages all parties concerned to maintain contact, continue negotiations, show political will and Thirdly, favourable conditions should be established. The international community should advocate a ceasefire more rationally, while promoting peace talks and dialogue. Greater diplomatic efforts are needed to build trust and facilitate mediation, thereby fostering a constructive environment for an early political resolution to the crisis. In that context, we urge the United States to focus on diplomatic efforts and stop its groundless accusations. China’s position on the Ukraine issue has been consistent, firm and clear. We always stand on the side of peace, dialogue and humanity and support a ceasefire and a political solution. We actively carry out diplomatic mediation in accordance with the four “shoulds” proposed by President Xi Jinping and have initiated the Group of Friends for Peace on the Ukraine crisis with Brazil and other countries of the global South to call for peace, build consensus on peace and promote peace efforts. China stands ready to work with the international community to continue to play a constructive role in promoting an early political solution to the crisis.

At the outset, I wish to thank Assistant Secretary-General Jenča and Director Wosornu for their valuable briefings and for their updates on the developments in Ukraine. The Security Council meets again at a moment of heightened tensions. The recent escalation is deeply troubling, not only because of its immediate impact on civilians, but also because of its wider implications for international peace and security. We welcome the recent exchange of prisoners of war. That is an encouraging sign of dialogue and a reminder that even amid conflict, humanitarian gestures remain possible. We urge the parties to build on that progress, in line with international humanitarian law. However, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. Civilians are bearing the brunt, families are displaced, infrastructure is damaged, and access to essential services is shrinking. The upcoming winter threatens to worsen those hardships for the most vulnerable population. We urge all parties to comply with international humanitarian law, ensure unhindered humanitarian access and prioritize the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure. At this juncture, we appeal for de-escalation and the utmost restraint by all sides. The cycle of violence must end. We call for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire as a vital first step to halt the deepening crisis. Yet, a ceasefire alone is not enough. There must be a genuine return to dialogue and diplomacy. Only through constructive engagement and a renewed commitment to negotiations can a just and lasting peace take root. The Council must encourage and support all efforts towards a diplomatic solution guided by the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. Our delegation remains steadfast in its commitment to a peaceful, stable and sovereign Ukraine and to the pursuit of a just and lasting peace for its people.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Guyana. I thank Assistant Secretary-General Jenča and Director Wosornu of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for their briefings. I also welcome the participation in this meeting of the Permanent Representative of Ukraine and representatives of other countries in the region. Guyana notes with alarm the intensifying attacks and mounting civilian casualties reported over the past few days and weeks in this conflict. We regret that the growing demands for a ceasefire and efforts to arrive at an urgent diplomatic solution remain With rising global tensions and conflicts reaching the highest levels since the Second World War, one truth has become clear: the world is witnessing a collapse in the international frameworks and mechanisms that were designed to protect civilians in armed conflicts. As conflict parties remain locked in a win-lose scenario, in which one must prevail and the other must be defeated, it is innocent civilians who continue to suffer the consequences of their decisions and actions. As Assistant Secretary- General Jenča said, new data published by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) this month indicate that civilian deaths in conflicts surged 40 per cent globally in 2024, with children dying in unprecedented numbers. Other alarming statistics from the report show that one civilian dies in armed conflict every 12 minutes, while every 14 hours at least one human rights defender, journalist or trade unionist is killed or disappeared. In Ukraine, the worrisome trend of high civilian casualties in 2025, with casualties in the first five months of the year being almost 50 per cent higher than in the same period in 2024, is of deep concern. In May alone, there were at least 183 civilian deaths and 836 injuries in Ukraine. Those casualties largely stem from attacks with long-range missiles, loitering munitions and short-range drones with onboard high-resolution cameras used for precision targeting. Those are all weapons that continue to cause grave civilian harm. Guyana reiterates its demand for the parties to this conflict to respect humanitarian principles and adhere to international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law. We urgently call for greater efforts to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian objects and for that to be made a critical priority in the planning and conduct of military operations. We reiterate our call for an immediate end to the hostilities. We also call, once again, for respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Guyana urges the parties to engage in good faith in the diplomatic efforts under way and commends the efforts of United Nations agencies, bilateral partners and international, regional and local organizations in that regard. Those diplomatic efforts have led to the exchange of prisoners and other detained persons. We hope that they will continue and urgently call for greater attention to confidence-building measures. We further call for independent monitors, including OHCHR, to be allowed regular, unimpeded and confidential access to all detained persons. In conclusion, Guyana stresses the urgency of resolving this conflict through peaceful means. We will continue to support all efforts made by the Secretary- General and other willing partners who have been working diligently towards peace and an end to this war. I resume my functions as President of the Council. I now give the floor to the representative of Ukraine.

I wish to thank the Guyanese presidency and, in particular, Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett for convening today’s urgent Security Council meeting, and Denmark, Greece, France, the Republic of Korea, Slovenia and the United Kingdom for supporting Ukraine’s request. I am also grateful to the briefers, Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča and Director Wosornu of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, for their thoughtful insights and very clear-cut position. Today I speak before the Council not only as a representative of Ukraine, a victim of Russia’s war of annihilation. Today I stand as a citizen, as a son whose family’s life back home in Kyiv, like the lives of millions of other Ukrainian families, hangs But just days ago, on 17 June, the darkness was ripped apart yet again, this time on an unprecedented scale, marking perhaps the most dreadful night of this barbaric war. A single Russian X-101 cruise missile struck deep into a residential building, as innocent families lay asleep in the gentle embrace of dreams. Twenty sweet souls — mothers, fathers, children — were ripped from life in the blink of an eye. A whole section of that apartment block was literally obliterated. In the span of a single heartbeat, their pillows became their burial shrouds. That very night, seconds after that deadly strike, my mom called me. She lives only a whisker away from the house in the Solomianskyi district that was hit. Her voice, fragile and quavering, bridged the void between us, and she said: “The walls are trembling. The windows are rattling. I am praying, my son. I do not know if I will ever see your face again.” That horrible night, my mother and our family were spared by nothing but a stroke of luck in a moment of endless terror. Yet the shadow of that danger still looms over all of us — a cruel reminder that the sword of Damocles is suspended above our heads, which we know, might fall at any time. Can the members of the Council imagine that? Can they imagine their own mother whispering what could be her last prayer over the phone, as the ceiling above her threatens to become her grave? This is not a war fought in trenches. This Russian war is waged in bedrooms. This Russian war is a war in kitchens, a war in playgrounds, a war in hospitals and in schools. It is pure terror that never sleeps, terror that steals tomorrow before the dawn can break. This madness has to stop. And yet on that very same day, as he did today, on Monday, when 440 murderous drones and 32 ballistic and cruise missiles with cluster ammunition struck Kyiv, killing in total 28 innocent people in their sleep and leaving more than 140 wounded, our Russian colleague shamelessly declared, as he did today, with a straight face, that Russia does not target civilians. If it is not Russia shelling our homes, then who else could it be? Aliens from outer space or perhaps Darth Vader and his Death Star? Maybe next time, they will blame Martians, the dark side of the Force, or the tooth fairy for dropping bombs instead of coins. But we all know the bitter truth. We know it. Those attacks come from a single source, just one single source: Putin’s decision to terrorize civilians in Ukraine simply because his army cannot win and will not win on the battlefield. I speak here today not to exchange accusations, not to hurl arrows back and forth and not to dance to the tune that our Russian counterparts keep shamelessly playing in the Chamber. I am here to remind us of the responsibility that the Council has to protect peace and not to merely rehearse endless arguments. I believe that even the smallest steps are better than yet another round of blame games, which we have seen so often here in the Chamber. Our main goal is simple. It is very simple: to stop this horrible and bloody war. And the Council must never lose sight of that. One of the greatest dangers that we face is the slow poison of getting accustomed to the Russian war. What we have heard today is the creeping notion that it has become War fatigue may be human, but tolerating daily war crimes, as we have seen in Ukraine, must never be an option. We, including the Council, cannot and must not allow ourselves to grow used to this war against Ukraine, treating it as background noise to other global conflicts. We cannot allow cynicism to replace responsibility. Every missile strike, every child killed, every family forced to flee is a reminder that this brutal Russian war must never be filed away as yesterday’s news. It remains the Council’s duty to prove that, even in deadlock, it is still possible to achieve a breakthrough and move forwards, however slowly, towards ending the bloodshed. We all need more courage; we all need more creative thinking, including in the Chamber. Let us remember why we gather here beneath the emblem of the United Nations: because the Security Council still bears the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace. That is not just a provision enshrined in Article 24 of the Charter, it is, above all, a solemn commitment and a moral contract with all of humankind. When that contract is betrayed, trust in the very idea of a rules-based international order is also shattered. Today I speak before Council members with a plea, with one simple plea that transcends Ukraine’s tragedy, but one that echoes the universal timeless aspirations of humankind: help us to end this nightmare once and for all; use the authority entrusted to members of the Council by every nation that has signed the Charter of the United Nations. We urge the Council to live up to its founding promise and to take bold, decisive and urgent action to secure an immediate, comprehensive and unconditional ceasefire for at least 30, or better, 60 days — a ceasefire that will hush the drones, ground the missiles and give mothers the right to sleep without praying that they and our children will survive the night. It is now, as many colleagues have just mentioned, more than 101 days since Ukraine committed itself to such a ceasefire. Regrettably, Russia has chosen to dismiss that path towards silencing the guns. Moscow has chosen to turn its back not only on Ukraine’s offer but also on the tireless peace efforts of our American friends, including those of President Donald Trump personally, who have worked relentlessly to create space for a diplomatic solution. The Council should not look away from this truth. There is no lack of will for peace on the Ukrainian side, only a lack of honesty from those who keep launching the deadly missiles. I dare to hope, and I invite all Council members to share that hope with me today, that in the days that lie ahead, the Council will consider and adopt a resolution calling for an end to those attacks — a very simple resolution that would demand a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire and that would lay the ground for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in line with the Charter of the United Nations. Let my mother and millions of mothers like her lie down at night knowing that the international community has not abandoned them and has not turned away from their suffering. Let the world witness that the Security Council is not a relic of old promises but a living guardian of our shared peace and our common dignity. Before I leave this Chamber, I wish to extend an official invitation to the members of the Council to pay a visit to Ukraine. Please come and walk our bombed, ravaged streets; stand beside the dark craters, where children once played; talk to the victims; hear with their own ears the wail of the sirens, which steal our sleep every night; look into the eyes of the mothers who tucked their kids into basements instead of beds; smell the smoke of ruins; touch the rubble; and feel the chill of war. The Chamber is often called the most important room in the world. On the walls just behind us we can see and admire a masterpiece by the Norwegian artist Per Krohg. The phoenix at its centre will always remind us that peace must rise from the ashes, but it will not rise on its own. It is the Council that must breathe life into

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 align ourselves with the statement to be delivered by the representative of the European Union. I thank the Guyanese presidency for calling this meeting and appreciate the information provided by the briefers: Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and Americas, Mr. Miroslav Jenča, and Director of Operations and Advocacy, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Ms. Edem Wosornu. We reiterate our full support to the United Nations humanitarian agencies and volunteers assisting Ukraine. The Baltic States are active participants in the United Nations regional refugee response and contributors to the humanitarian needs and response plan. We strongly condemn Russia’s brutal attack on Kyiv on Tuesday, which killed at least 23 and injured more than 134 civilians, including children, marking one of the deadliest strikes in nearly a year, as documented by the United Nations human rights team. Attacks targeting civilian infrastructure are direct violations of international humanitarian law. That attack is part of a broader pattern of the deliberate, cynical terrorist campaigns by Russia against Ukrainian civilians and critical infrastructure — campaigns that have recently intensified, with Ukraine enduring daily barrages of Russian missile and drone strikes. Day after day Russia’s military, armed by Belarus, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Iran, kill and maim peaceful civilians across Ukraine. Russia’s war is further enabled by the State profiteers that supply Russia with dual-use technologies and maintain its so-called shadow fleet of oil tankers. We continue to urge China, as a permanent member of the Security Council with a particular responsibility to upholding the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, to exercise its influence to end Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and increase its pressure to force Russia to accept peace in Ukraine by agreeing to the ceasefire. Let me recall that today marks 101 days since Ukraine agreed to a United States proposal for a 30-day ceasefire. Meanwhile, Russia is spreading disinformation about its readiness to seek peace, with a view to buying time and continuing its aggression. Russia rejects even a basic 30-day ceasefire, which must be a precondition for any future peace negotiations on the conclusion of a just and lasting peace agreement, proving once again that Russia does not want peace. Our response must be resolute, placing pressure on Russia and maximizing support to Ukraine. Peace cannot be negotiated while missiles and drones rain down on the Ukrainian people. Moreover, Russia disseminates ever-changing narratives about the causes of the war. Yet we know that Russia attacked, invaded and occupied territories of Ukraine unprovoked, in the tradition of its long-standing imperialistic policies, which Russia prefers to accuse others of. The Baltic States will continue speaking against Russia’s propaganda at the United Nations. We will also do our utmost to bring a conclusive and irreversible end to Russia’s aggression. There is no justification for the military invasion of another country. Ukraine has an undeniable right to defend itself, and we will do everything in our power to assist Ukraine. While war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide are prosecuted by the International Criminal Court, the crime of aggression can be prosecuted only by the special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, which has our strong support. The Baltic States express their unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. We call for increased joint international pressure to force Russia to accept peace in Ukraine. Russia must immediately stop murdering innocent civilians, withdraw all its armed forces and military equipment from the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine in full compliance with the international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, and cease its aggression once and for all.

I now give the floor to the representative of Norway.

I am grateful for the very valuable briefings provided by the representatives of the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and my own country, Norway. Allow me to remind the Security Council, whose primary task is to maintain international peace and security, that the sole responsibility for the brutal war unfolding in Ukraine lies with the aggressor: the Russian Federation. These past weeks Russia has launched large and intensified waves of drone and missile attacks against Ukraine causing unbearable suffering. No target is off limits for Russia, not even a maternity ward in Odesa or the UNESCO-listed Saint Sophia Cathedral. The attacks involve both drones and ballistic missiles, and they last for hours. Last weekend’s attack in Kyiv, killing at least 28 civilians and injuring more than 140 residents, marked the deadliest attack against the capital in nearly a year. It underscores the devastating trend of increasing civilian casualties. Russia’s armed forces and those supporting them have committed acts of violence or threatened to commit them for the primary purpose of spreading terror among the civilian population, in violation of international humanitarian law. And that has been documented by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine. The situation for Ukrainians living under Russian occupation is alarming. We call for full, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access in occupied territories. We urge Russia to comply with international humanitarian law and allow humanitarian personnel to have access to prisoners of war, including those held captive in Russia. Time and time again and consistently Ukraine has demonstrated its desire for peace. Peace can only be sustainable if Ukraine is at the table, and its right to decide its own future is fully respected. Russia, on the other hand, has a choice. Russia could end the suffering. It could end the war today by withdrawing all forces from occupied territory, ending all hostilities, releasing all prisoners and returning all children unlawfully deported from Ukraine. However, the continued attacks against civilians demonstrate that Russia’s objectives are unchanged. Russia’s current maximalist demands of political and territorial control over Ukraine are completely unacceptable and incompatible with Ukraine’s sovereignty. We support Ukraine’s position that the first step must be a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire, a ceasefire needed to prevent further loss of innocent lives. The Nordic countries remain steadfast in their support to Ukraine. We remain committed to strengthening Ukraine, as well as to upholding sanctions targeting Russia’s war economy. Russia’s war not only is a threat to European security but also has global implications. We urge all countries to immediately cease any direct or indirect assistance to Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine. We urge all members of the Security Council to act in accordance with the rules and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. That includes respect for any State’s territorial integrity and internationally recognized borders.

I now give the floor to the representative of Germany.

Germany aligns itself with the statement to be delivered by the representative of the European Union. At the outset, allow me to join others in thanking the briefers for their important contributions. On Monday, while the world was watching the escalation in the Middle East, Russian forces launched one of the most devastating air strikes on Kyiv since the start of the war, causing extensive destruction of civilian infrastructure. As we know, at least 28 people were killed and more than 140 were injured. That is yet another sign that Russia is using diplomacy as a façade. Russia is sidestepping, dragging its feet and keeps pushing its maximalist demands. Russia does not want a just and lasting diplomatic solution, but rather Ukraine’s unconditional surrender. That is also evident in the memorandum presented in Istanbul. Recently, the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, acknowledged that the Istanbul talks were not aimed at striking a compromise for peace but at ensuring a swift victory for Russia. Let me be clear: the Russian Federation is fighting an illegal and unprovoked war of territorial expansion against its sovereign neighbour. We, on the contrary, are supporting Ukraine’s legitimate right to defend itself against an act of aggression. Together with Ukraine, we are heeding the unequivocal call of the General Assembly and the Secretary-General to work towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, a peace rooted in the Charter of the United Nations and international law. As we and many others have raised before in this Chamber, how the war ends does matter, not only to Ukraine and Europe but to every Member State of this Organization. We must avoid, at all costs, the aggressor being rewarded for its aggression. In a world in which might replaces right, the security of all nations is eroded, threatening us all. We will continue to work with partners to increase the pressure on Russia to negotiate in earnest. When we call on Russia to engage, we mean true and genuine engagement for a full, unconditional ceasefire as the first step towards peace — immediately, and without further preconditions.

I now give the floor to the representative of Italy.

Italy fully aligns itself with the statement to be delivered by the representative of the European Union (EU) and would like to add some considerations in its national capacity. We are convened today after the most recent brutal Russian attacks in Ukraine, a clear further breach of international law. That demonstrates once again the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire as a precondition to launch meaningful negotiations for peace. Only a diplomatic solution to the conflict, based on the Charter of the United Nations and international law, with the full involvement of Ukraine and Europe, can lead to a just, lasting and comprehensive peace. We firmly believe that the full implementation of those principles is not only in the interests of Ukraine and Europe but also of the entire United Nations membership and, above all, is in the interests of the innocent civilians who are the main victims of a war they did not ask for. We welcome all efforts towards achieving such a peace, including last week’s exchange of prisoners. Ukraine has demonstrated its willingness to pursue peace with a comprehensive and immediate ceasefire and high-level negotiations. The focus of the international community is now on what steps are necessary to bring Russia to the negotiating table, with a real political will to end the war. As we have said many times, we are not at war with Russia and the Russian people. We oppose an ill-considered and unprovoked decision to invade a sovereign country. Unwavering support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine has been a priority for Italy since the beginning of the conflict. While strongly backing the European Union’s initiatives, Italy is contributing in particular to ensure Ukraine’s resilience and intends to play an active role in the social and economic recovery of the country, as well as its reconstruction. On 10 and 11 July in Rome, we will host the Ukraine Recovery Conference, focused on four key thematic pillars: the business, human, regional and EU dimensions. Together we will lay the foundations for a prosperous independent Ukraine within our common European family.

I now give the floor to Mr. Lambrinidis. Mr. Lambrinidis: I would like to thank the briefers for sharing their assessment of the consequences of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Let me begin by reiterating a point that we have made time and again — violations of the Charter of the United Nations have to be condemned by all members of the international community, in unequivocal terms. In the case of Ukraine, that means reiterating our resolute condemnation of Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression, which is yet another blatant violation of the Charter and international law by Russia. Russia’s war comes with dramatic and unpredictable consequences beyond Ukraine, of course. We have discussed that many times in this Chamber. But its destructive impact on Ukraine itself — the victim — has been particularly vast in The European Union therefore continues to condemn in the strongest possible terms the atrocities committed in Ukraine by Russia in the context of its war of aggression. They include indiscriminate and targeted attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure; extrajudicial executions, including summary executions of prisoners of war and civilian detainees; the systematic and widespread use of torture and other forms of ill-treatment, including sexual and gender-based violence; and the unlawful deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children and other civilians. Russia could end its war now. It could accept a full and unconditional ceasefire, as Ukraine has. And it could, most certainly, simply end its unprovoked war today. As in the past, it is now for Russia to show its willingness to achieve peace. Let me once again underline our resolute determination to put an end to Russia’s war of aggression and to achieve lasting peace. As Europeans, together with Ukraine, we have been working tirelessly to that end and we welcome all efforts in that direction. We have joined Ukraine and international partners, including the United States, in calling for a full, unconditional ceasefire of at least 30 days. That pause in hostilities could serve as a vital step towards reducing civilian suffering and allow for further exchanges of prisoners and, critically, for the return of children. Ukraine has demonstrated its willingness to accept a comprehensive and immediate ceasefire without preconditions. It has committed to such a step 100 days ago. For 100 days, Russia has refused to commit. It has, in contrast, further escalated its attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure. On Tuesday night, as many mentioned in this Chamber, Ukraine reported more than 440 Russian drones and more than 30 missiles striking densely populated residential areas, including the capital, Kyiv. Those are not the actions of a country suing for peace. We implore the Council to exert increased pressure for a full and unconditional ceasefire, as a first step. It would provide space for meaningful talks aimed at ending Russia’s war and achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, grounded in the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law. Again, Russia can also end this war if it ceases its aggression and withdraws all forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine, immediately, completely and unconditionally, exactly what it has been refusing to do for more than three years. Russia itself has to fully respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence within Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders, if it claims that it cares about the Charter. The European Union is firmly committed to ensuring full accountability for all international crimes and human rights violations committed, as well as to victims’ rights to justice, reparation and guarantees of non-repetition. And until Russia ends its war of aggression, we stress again that Ukraine has an inherent right of self- defence under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. Russia is the aggressor. Ukraine is defending itself, its territory, its people, its freedom, its statehood and its existence. The facts are irrefutable.

I now give the floor to the representative of Poland.

I want to start by thanking Guyana for convening this timely and important discussion, and I thank the briefers for the updates provided. Poland aligns itself with the statement just delivered by the representative of the European Union. The Kremlin is hoping to bring back the Soviet times when Kyiv was subordinated and Ukraine had no free will or right to decide on its future. But as we see every day, Ukrainian determination to resist Russia is stronger than the aggressor’s missiles. Russia’s actions demonstrate that it sees peace talks as an inconsequential sideshow. Its military campaign in Ukraine has intensified significantly, with 2025 well on track to become the deadliest year for Russian forces since the beginning of the full- scale war. Ukraine has the unquestionable right to defend itself, including by targeting the aggressor’s military assets. Poland will continue to stand with the victim of the aggression, just as it has done since day one. We will also continue supporting Ukraine in seeking a genuine, just and lasting peace based on the Charter of the United Nations and international law, in line with the will of Ukraine’s citizens. That is what all of us should support. In his attempts to resuscitate the Russian empire and perhaps to feed his personal ambition, President Putin has already sacrificed the lives of hundreds of thousands of his own citizens and robbed them of a peaceful and prosperous future. It is time for Russia to end this war.