S/PV.9971 Security Council

I should like to take this opportunity to pay tribute, on behalf of the Council, to His Excellency Mr. Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Permanent Representative of Pakistan, for his service as President of the Council for the month of July. I am sure I speak for all members of the Council in expressing deep appreciation to Ambassador Ahmad and his team for the great diplomatic skill with which they conducted the Council’s business last month. Adoption of the agenda

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite Mr. Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and Americas, Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I also invite His Excellency Mr. Daniel Beck, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. 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: First, allow me to join you, Mr. President, in thanking Pakistan for successfully presiding over the Security Council in the month of July. I wish to also congratulate you, Mr. President, for taking over the Council presidency during the month of August and wish you all the best. With only one week having passed since our most recent briefing to the Security Council on the situation in Ukraine (see S/PV.9965), we are meeting again as the Russian Federation continues its brutal attacks across the country. Overnight, between 30 and 31 July, yet another large-scale Russian missile and drone attack hit Kyiv. At least 31 people, including five children, were reportedly killed; 159 people, including at least 16 children, were reportedly injured. The number of children injured in that attack was the highest in a single night in the city since the beginning of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion. According to local officials, the strike damaged 27 locations across four districts of the capital, including a school, a preschool, a paediatric wing of a hospital and a university building. An entire section of an apartment block was also reportedly destroyed, leaving many trapped beneath the burning rubble. Following the attack, humanitarian partners, including United Nations agencies and local non-governmental organizations in Kyiv, provided immediate emergency assistance to affected families. Aid workers also distributed emergency shelter kits to repair damaged windows and offered initial psychological aid, legal counselling and psychosocial support to residents. In addition to Kyiv, seven other regions of Ukraine — Vinnytsia, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Zhytomyr, Zaporizhzhia, Cherkasy and Chernihiv — were targeted that night with at least 120 civilian casualties reported across the country. In the front- Those most recent terrible and devastating attacks follow a deadly wave of daily, relentless Russian air strikes. On the night of 28 July and the early hours of 29 July, at least 25 people were reportedly killed and dozens more injured across Ukraine. In Bilenke, in the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine, a reported Russian attack hit a prison facility, killing 16 and injuring 35 people. In the city of Kamianske, in the Dnipropetrovsk region, a reported Russian attack hit a hospital. Three people, including a young pregnant woman, were killed, and at least 22, including 10 medical workers, were reportedly injured. In the village of Novoplatonivka, in the Kharkiv region, six people were reportedly killed in an attack that hit people gathered to receive humanitarian aid. On 27 July, a drone struck a civilian bus near Ivolzhanske, in the Sumy region, reportedly killing three elderly women and injuring 19 other passengers. The continuing horrendous attacks are simply unacceptable. In total, according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), since the start of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 until 30 June, launched in blatant violation of the Charter of the United Nations and international law, 13,580 civilians, including 716 children, have been killed; 34,115 civilians, including 2,173 children, have been injured. Since our most recent briefing, we have also continued to see reports of civilian casualties, including civilian deaths in the Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk and Rostov regions of the Russian Federation. According to the Russian authorities, in the Belgorod region, between 25 and 29 July, at least two civilians were reportedly killed, and seven others were wounded as a result of drone and missile strikes. In the Bryansk region, between 26 and 28 July, two civilians were reportedly injured as a result of drone strikes. In the Kursk region, between 25 and 26 July, one person was reportedly killed, and six others were reportedly injured as a result of drone attacks and a mine explosion. In the Leningrad region, on 28 July, debris from a crashed drone reportedly caused a fire, killing one civilian and injuring three. In the Rostov region, on the night of 29 July, a reported drone strike killed a driver and triggered a fire at a railway station. While the United Nations is not in a position to verify those reports, we remain concerned about the increasing impact of the reported Ukrainian strikes on the civilian population in the Russian Federation. We also reiterate that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited under international law and must stop immediately, wherever they occur. Last week, we commended the parties for the continuing prisoner-of-war exchanges which have reunited thousands of people with their families. The situation of the remaining captives, however, remains of serious concern. Since early June, OHCHR has interviewed nearly 140 male Ukrainian prisoners of war who were recently released, many after up to three years of captivity. Nearly all of the former prisoners interviewed by OHCHR reported having been subjected to torture or ill-treatment, including severe beatings, electric shocks, sexual violence, dog attacks, suffocation, mutilation or conditions so inhumane that they resulted in the deaths of fellow prisoners. Those findings confirm the previously documented patterns of widespread and systematic torture. Civilians detained by the Russian Federation and interviewed by OHCHR also continued to recount widespread and routine torture and ill-treatment, as well as The Ukrainian people have endured nearly three and a half years of unimaginable horrors, death, devastation and destruction. They urgently need relief from this nightmare. We therefore reiterate our urgent call for an immediate, unconditional and complete ceasefire to pave the way towards a just, lasting and comprehensive peace, a peace that is in line with the Charter of the United Nations, international law and the relevant United Nations resolutions in full respect of the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders. Diplomacy, not fighting, needs to escalate in the coming days and weeks, diplomacy that leads to real, tangible, verifiable and lasting results that would be felt by the long-suffering people on the ground. The United Nations remains ready to support all meaningful efforts to that end.

I thank Mr. Jenča for the information he has provided. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

Let me once again congratulate you, Mr. President, personally and Panama on assuming the presidency for the month of August. You, Sir, can count on Denmark’s full support. I wish to start by thanking Assistant Secretary- General Jenča for his briefing. I also welcome the participation in this meeting of the representatives of Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and the European Union. Some may question why the Council is meeting to address the situation in Ukraine today once again, just over 24 hours since we last convened on this issue (see S/PV.9970). The sad truth is that just hours before we sat here yesterday, reiterating our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, Russia was busy attacking Ukraine in one of the most vicious and violent attacks so far in this long tragic war. Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, was particularly targeted. The destruction was massive, with more than 30 civilians killed and 159 wounded, many of them children, as we just heard from Assistant Secretary-General Jenča. Even though these harrowing attacks have sadly become reality in everyday life in Ukraine, here in this Chamber, we must do all we can to break this cycle. We cannot become numb to these images and the suffering they convey, nor can we allow Russia’s behaviour to be condoned. Therefore, following the latest massive attacks on Kyiv and other regions, Ukraine rightly asked the Security Council to convene an emergency meeting. Denmark together with France, Greece, Slovenia and the United Kingdom supported that call. We did so because we believe that, as the primary body for the maintenance of international peace and security, it is our collective responsibility to respond. As we have heard, in just one night, Russia launched more than 300 drones and missiles at Ukrainian cities, with devastating impact on civilians and civilian infrastructure. We cannot accept that. No country that signed the Charter of the United Nations should accept that. We recall that civilians and civilian objects are protected under international humanitarian law and must not be targeted. Denmark strongly condemns those attacks. It is clear that the string of attacks is escalating in intensity and that Russia relentlessly continues its illegal invasion. Those are not the actions of a country interested in peace. We strongly call on The Ukrainian people have endured too much for too long. Peace is long overdue, and we truly believe it is within reach, if Russia finally realizes that its illegal war of aggression needs to end. Until then, Denmark will continue its unwavering support for Ukraine in its legitimate self-defence.

I would like to congratulate you, Mr. President, and express my best wishes for your presidency of the Security Council during this month of August. (spoke in French) I would also like to congratulate the Permanent Representative of Pakistan on his effective presidency and that of his Mission throughout the month of July. I would like to thank the Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and Americas of the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, Mr. Jenča, for his briefing, in which every word was carefully considered. I would like to welcome the Deputy Permanent Representative of Ukraine, as well as the representatives of Lithuania, Poland and the European Union. We are again gathered here to discuss Ukraine. Why is that? It is because the situation is intolerable in Ukraine and for Ukraine. It is intolerable because Russia has deliberately chosen to continue its war of aggression, with its accompanying indiscriminate strikes, war crimes and flagrant violations of international humanitarian law. On 14 July, after months of unheeded offers and opportunities presented to Russia, President Trump issued a clear ultimatum to Russia, calling on it to engage in good faith in negotiations and end its war. Since then, Russia has struck Ukrainian territory more than 3,400 times, causing more than 80 civilian deaths and more than 300 injuries. On the night of 31 July to 1 August alone, Russian strikes against Kyiv killed at least 31 civilians, including five children, and wounded more than 150. Those massive strike campaigns are evidence of a deliberate strategy of military escalation and are intended to sow terror among Ukrainian civilians. Behind the falsehoods repeated at length by Russia during meetings, the facts are overwhelming. There is only one reason for the war: Russia’s decision to invade a sovereign country that posed no threat to it, in flagrant violation of the Charter of the United Nations and international law. Several of us reiterated that yesterday (see S/PV.9970). Russia’s war of aggression is a war of choice, chosen by Russia. Invading Ukraine and attempting to annex parts of its territory is tantamount to pursuing imperialism from a bygone era. To try to mask that by claiming to be fighting neo- Nazism or taking pre-emptive action against NATO’s alleged aggression is both a lie and a manipulation of the Security Council. Every day Russia can choose to end its aggression without jeopardizing its own security. As the people of Kyiv observe a day of mourning this Friday, Russia is cynically and stubbornly choosing to ignore calls for peace and to reject the ceasefire that Ukraine accepted five months ago and that the entire international community is calling for. Russia is continuing its delaying tactics. Let us recall the Istanbul meetings, at which Ukraine was prepared to attend the summit to discuss a ceasefire and the path to peace. Russia relegated them to the status of expert discussions and reiterated demands that amount to a desire to cripple and subjugate Ukraine. The Security Council can no longer be content with noting that the aggressor refuses to end its aggression, especially when, pursuant to the Charter of the United Nations, that aggressor is entrusted with a special responsibility to permanently protect States from aggression and permanently protect international peace and security. The Council must compel it to do so by demanding a complete, immediate and unconditional ceasefire. That is our role and our duty. The Charter of the United Nations has entrusted it to us, and the world expects us to fulfil it.

At the outset, I would like to congratulate Panama on its assumption of the presidency of the Security Council for the month of August and to thank you, Mr. President, for convening this emergency meeting. I extend my congratulations to Pakistan for its successful stewardship of the Council during the month of July. I would also like to thank Assistant Secretary-General Jenča for his briefing. And I welcome the participation of the representative of Ukraine, along with that of the representatives of Lithuania, Poland and the European Union, in this meeting. The war in Ukraine has reached an inflection point. Russia is escalating its attacks, reinforced with weapons and munition by its allies and with troops by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, in violation of Security Council resolutions. Day after day, Russia continues its attacks also against residential areas, causing more human suffering and destroying civilian infrastructure. During the past three days, missile strikes have claimed dozens of civilian lives in Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv and, just yesterday, in Kyiv, using loitering munitions and cruise missiles. Pregnant women and children are among the casualties. We deplore the reported use of new lethal weapons, such as rocket-powered kamikaze drones, against civilians in residential areas. June saw the highest monthly civilian toll in Ukraine, and that alarming trend continued in July, owing to attacks not only close but also far from the front line. Once more Greece condemns in the strongest terms any attacks against civilians and civilian objects, as clear violations of the basic principles of international humanitarian law, and calls on Russia to immediately cease the targeting of residential areas and critical infrastructure in Ukraine. Adherence to those principles constitutes not only a legal requirement but also a moral imperative and should go hand in hand with accountability for the perpetrators. We stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people in these trying times. We also commend the work of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UNICEF and other humanitarian agencies active in Ukraine, and we are calling for their full, safe and unhindered access to the affected areas. Russia’s war against Ukraine has to stop, as repeatedly stressed by the majority of the United Nations membership in multiple General Assembly resolutions. Those blatant violations of international law should not be allowed to become the new norm. Greece welcomed the three rounds of direct bilateral talks between the two parties and the agreements on the exchange of prisoners but regrets that those agreements were the only tangible results in the course of five months. The war must end. Too much time has been lost. We repeat the need for a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire, without further delay, as the first step towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, in line with international law and the Charter of the United Nations and in full respect of its most fundamental principles: sovereignty, political independence and the territorial integrity of all States.

As others have done, I want to congratulate you, Mr. President, on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of August. You, Sir, have all our support. I also want to thank our colleague the Permanent Representative of Pakistan and his team for successfully steering the Council through the month of July. I would like to thank Assistant Secretary-General Jenča for his briefing today and for his contribution to the discussion. Let me make a few points. First, let us remind ourselves of some facts. What we are witnessing in Ukraine is a nuclear Power attacking and occupying a smaller neighbour. The aggression continues for the fourth year. The reasons for the invasion keep changing and range from the situation of the Russian minority, Ukrainian NATO aspirations and unspecified security concerns to the supposedly nationalistic orientation of the people and the Government. As per the Charter of the United Nations, none of these reasons can be a justification for aggression. The conflict is rapidly deteriorating. With each passing meeting, we speak of a new negative record — deadliest night, deadliest year, largest number of missiles and drones launched in a single day. These are facts, and it is good to keep reminding ourselves of them, as with the passage of months and years, fatigue sets in, and pictures become blurry. Secondly, the Council is often paralysed in its bid to take meaningful action. However, civilians in armed conflicts continue to turn their eyes, hopes and expectations to the Council when horrible things are happening to them. This applies to Ukrainians, to Gazans, to Sudanese, to Haitians and to civilians suffering in any other conflict area. For Ukrainians, when a tragedy like the one two nights ago happens, the least they expect is for the Council to discuss, hopefully to condemn and ultimately, to protect them. Thirdly, even if we have different views on the path to peace in Ukraine, we need to exchange views and arguments, in order to — hopefully one day — start hearing each other, to find a needle of solution in a haystack of arguments and to find a way forward to stop the suffering of civilians. Slovenia remains deeply concerned about Russia’s escalation of aggression against Ukraine. With civilian casualties on the rise for months and with more firepower being used in overnight aerial attacks, 2025 is rapidly becoming the deadliest year of this war. Instead of engaging on a path to peace, the Russian Federation is increasing its pressure on Ukrainian civilians. The latest aerial strikes on Kyiv are an example of this escalation. Overnight attacks with explosive weaponry in densely populated urban areas have no justification. They cannot be excused by claims of pursuing military goals — neither in Gaza nor in Kyiv. On the contrary, civilians who lost their lives or were injured should have been protected. Slovenia reiterates its condemnation of these attacks, including the most recent ones. In the past months, we heard Russian officials commit to peace numerous times. Nevertheless, Russia decided to escalate. Its attacks, including the most recent ones, cast serious doubt on Russia’s willingness to walk the path towards peace in Ukraine. At the beginning of the year, the Council called for a lasting peace between Russia Dame Barbara Woodward (United Kingdom): I congratulate you, Mr. President, on assuming the presidency of the Council. I would also like to thank Assistant Secretary-General Jenča for briefing us today. As we meet here, only a day after our most recent discussion on Russia’s continued aggression in Ukraine (see S/PV.9970), I do so acutely aware that this is a day of mourning in Kyiv, and I extend my sympathy and condolences to all who mourn in Ukraine today. Russia continues to inflict devastation across Ukraine. The Russian strikes we witness demonstrate the stark reality: while Ukraine continues to set out its willingness to move towards peace, Putin’s response is to kill more innocent civilians. Over the past four nights, Russia has fired 487 drones and 10 missiles at Ukrainian cities, killing 64 civilians and injuring more than 279 others. On Wednesday night alone, 31 people were killed in Kyiv, the deadliest attack in the city this year. Local authorities have reported that 12 children were among the injured, making it the highest number of children injured in an attack on the capital since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Every meeting we have on Ukraine, we hear more heartbreaking stories about civilian deaths, including the tragic killing of a 6-year-old boy on Wednesday night and the hospitalization of at least nine other children. Russia is unmoved by this. We are not. These are not just numbers. Each represents an individual life lost, a future snuffed out and, for the wounded, a future irrevocably blighted by Russia, as I saw for myself when I visited rehabilitation centres in Kyiv. The human toll of President Putin’s continued illegal, unjustifiable war against Ukraine is immense. Russia’s attacks on civilians, on children and on civilian infrastructure tell us everything we need to know about President Putin’s intentions: every Russian strike is not a commitment to peace, but an attempt to destroy life and liberty in Ukraine. And this is despite Russia’s obligations under international law and the Charter of the United Nations and Russia’s status as a permanent member of the Council. Their strikes, however, continue to escalate. We therefore echo President Trump’s calls for President Putin to engage meaningfully at the negotiating table. The Council was all but unanimous yesterday in calling for an immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire. That remains our call today.

I would like to start by congratulating the Pakistani delegation on successfully completing its presidency and wish every success to the colleagues from Panama. It is extremely regrettable that the work of the Security Council, including on the first day of Panama’s presidency, is becoming, through the efforts of Ukraine and its Western backers, a Groundhog Day of sorts. It is as if yesterday the representative of Kyiv had not sat in this very same seat, promoting the Ukrainian propaganda about bloodthirsty Russia and its plans to subjugate a neighbouring country, and as if the European sponsors of the regime had not recited their senseless mantras about Moscow’s unwillingness to make peace. What prevented us from discussing the stated topic of today’s meeting yesterday, especially since the tragedy in Kyiv, which is mentioned in the letter from the Ukrainian Permanent Mission, happened in the early hours of 31 July, and yesterday the Ukrainian representative essentially voiced her version of what happened, as predictable as it was? Does the Council accept such an inept waste of its time and resources on other items on its agenda? Imagine that we had a meeting on a country situation and then decided that we had forgotten to discuss one aspect Let us go back to the formal reason for convening today’s meeting. In the early hours of 31 July, the Russian armed forces, in pursuit of the task of demilitarizing Ukraine, launched multiple strikes using high-precision long-range weapons and uncrewed aerial vehicles against military-industrial facilities of Ukraine, including a military airfield, munition depots and warehouses with missile weapons and components for the production of uncrewed aerial vehicles. All designated military targets were hit. Let me stress once again that we are talking exclusively about facilities having to do with Ukraine’s military potential. This was confirmed by videos posted by Ukrainian users on social media, which clearly show secondary detonations of ammunition at the facilities hit, some of which were deployed in the civilian sector, in violation of international humanitarian law. In contrast, our armed forces, as was the case before, acted in strict compliance with international humanitarian law and did not target civilian objects. Now let us talk about the alleged strike on a residential building in Kyiv, which resulted in civilian casualties. The military experts who analysed the available videos concurred that there was only one reason for the tragedy. As was the case previously, it was due to the reckless deployment and incompetent use of Ukrainian air defence systems in densely populated urban areas. In the course of the special military operation, we received abundant confirmation that it is Ukrainian anti-aircraft missiles that pose the main danger to the civilian population of this country. Ukrainians are well aware of this and openly comment on it. If the Ukrainian army had complied with international humanitarian law, such tragedies could have been averted. The civilian population is not suffering from direct Russian strikes. But the expired princeling in Kyiv is not interested in alleviating the plight and suffering of the civilian population, but rather in presenting the situations he himself provoked as targeted Russian strikes. His only goal is to save his own skin and convince his sponsors to continue providing military and financial support for his declining dictatorial and utterly corrupt regime. Abusing the Security Council in an attempt to shift responsibility for the deaths of its own citizens is a favourite tactic of Ukrainian State propaganda. It is no coincidence, as many observers have noted, that the most high-impact tragedies miraculously occur on the eve of, or during visits of the head of the Kyiv clique abroad, when he is desperate to get pity from another country or wants to beg for a new tranche of military or financial aid. What is omitted is the fact that the Ukrainian armed forces themselves launch several hundred drones against our country every day, deliberately targeting civilian objects in a futile attempt to sow panic in our country and undermine its stability. Last week alone, 155 civilians were affected by the actions of the Kyiv regime, two-thirds of them injured from drone strikes. The highest number of casualties were recorded in the Belgorod, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts and the Krasnodar region. The Ukrainian army is deliberately targeting places where civilians gather, as well as residential buildings, public transport and emergency services. For example, last week, a driver was killed and a paramedic and a nurse were wounded when a drone struck an ambulance in the Pologovsky district of the Zaporizhzhia region. In All these facts are being systematically ignored by Kyiv and its patrons, as we can see today as well. The relevant Secretariat officials are also acting in a highly hypocritical manner, preferring to feign ignorance and alleging that information regarding Ukrainian crimes is impossible to verify. All of this clearly undermines the credibility of the United Nations. In conclusion, I would like to emphasize once again that we do not object to the Council discussing the Ukrainian crisis. What we do object to is the fact that the tragedy of Ukrainians, who have become hostages of the Zelenskyy regime and its maniacal desire to sacrifice them on the altar of Western geopolitical interests, is being exploited in the Council for political purposes. It is also utterly disrespectful and indifferent to the fate of thousands of people who are suffering and dying every day in other conflicts around the world. But Western members of the Security Council are in no hurry to convene meetings on that. I do hope that sensible members of the Council and the international community will support us in this.

Allow me to begin by congratulating you, Mr. President, and Panama on assuming the presidency of the Council for the month of August. We are confident that, under your able and astute stewardship, our deliberations will be most productive this month. To that end, I would like to assure you of my delegation’s full support. I would also like to thank Assistant Secretary-General Jenča for his detailed briefing. Pakistan has repeatedly expressed its deep concerns about the continuing hostilities and the devastating consequences of this protracted conflict, which is now entering into its fourth year, and its humanitarian toll, in particular. The recent escalation in fighting, resulting in the loss of innocent civilian lives, is both tragic and deplorable. Pakistan notes with consternation that the diplomatic efforts at the start of the year, including resolution 2774 (2025), which Pakistan supported, multiple rounds of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, as well as the limited ceasefire understandings between the parties, have yet to translate into meaningful progress that could lead to a cessation of hostilities and bring peace to the region. On the contrary, the recent surge in violence and hostilities seem to have dented the earlier peace efforts and the glimmer of hope that these nascent diplomatic initiatives had produced. While prisoner exchanges and talks in Istanbul are a welcome development, the ongoing violence, death and destruction continue to cast a shadow over the peace efforts. In that context, Pakistan reiterates the following urgent imperatives. First, the protection of civilians is a must. International humanitarian law is clear, and it must be upheld unconditionally. The targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure cannot be justified. Secondly, the pursuit of military means to resolve this conflict would only lead to a dead end and deepen the suffering of people affected by this conflict. Sustainable peace demands de-escalation, a ceasefire and an unwavering commitment to dialogue. Thirdly, the commitment to peace specifically expressed in resolution 2744 (2024) and reinforced, in general, by resolution 2788 (2025) is the only viable path forward. The ongoing peace talks must translate into tangible progress, and steps such as prisoner swaps should build mutual trust and confidence and catalyse broader political negotiations aimed at ending this conflict.

At the outset, I would like to take the opportunity of this initial meeting to congratulate Panama on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for this month of August. Mr. President, you can count on Algeria’s full support. We also congratulate Pakistan on its successful presidency during the month of July. I would like to thank Mr. Miroslav Jenča for his valuable briefing. Despite positive diplomatic efforts and three meetings between the two sides, the war between Russia and Ukraine regrettably continues to claim innocent lives and leave many victims and wounded. Against that backdrop, my country continues to stress its profound concern about the mounting international polarization, which is exacerbating and prolonging the conflict and is not only diminishing prospects of securing peace but also impeding mediation efforts. The current situation could drag the region into a spiral of conflict and crisis, which, inevitably, will reverberate worldwide, especially in developing countries, which have been and continue to be hit by volatility in the food and energy markets. Accordingly, I wish to reiterate the following points. First, Algeria expresses its deep concern about the ongoing escalation and strongly condemns all violations of international law, including international humanitarian law. In that connection, we urge the parties to exercise restraint and de-escalate, comply with international humanitarian law, avoid any action that imperils the lives of civilians and refrain from attacking civilian infrastructure. Secondly, my country repeats its call to the parties to choose the path of dialogue over that of confrontation, and harmony over escalation. Above all, they should eschew the dictates of international polarization, not least given the signs of direct negotiations between the two parties. We also urge the international community to redouble its efforts to foster conditions conducive to direct negotiations, reconcile positions and allow divides to be bridged with a view to de-escalating and resolving the conflict between the parties. In conclusion, Algeria reiterates its firm commitment to supporting all diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving an end to the war and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace, based on the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and with due regard for the legitimate security concerns of the parties.

At outset, I wish to warmly congratulate the Republic of Panama on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of August. We have every confidence in its able leadership in guiding the Council’s work during this critical period and assure it of Sierra Leone’s full support and cooperation. I also take this opportunity to commend the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for its highly successful and productive presidency in July. Under Pakistan’s leadership and meaningful initiatives, the Council adopted outcomes that strengthen our collective efforts to maintain international peace and security. We value its contribution and look forward to building on that momentum. I thank Assistant Secretary-General Jenča for the sobering update on the worsening situation in Ukraine. I also welcome the participation of the representatives of Ukraine, Lithuania, Poland and the European Union in this meeting. As we heard again today, the intensified use of long-range missiles and drones in heavily populated urban areas continues to cause tragic civilian casualties, including among the most vulnerable: children. We take note of the letter from the Permanent Representative of Ukraine, reporting a massive area attack by Russian forces on the city of Kyiv on the night of 31 July. According to credible reports, at least 13 people lost their lives, and 130 others were injured. This attack adds to a grim tally of civilian suffering. Over the past six months alone, relentless aerial bombardments on densely populated areas have killed men, women and children, while destroying homes, schools, universities, medical facilities, businesses and critical energy and water infrastructure. The plight of children is particularly harrowing. They live daily with death, fear and loss, enduring profound physical, mental and psychological trauma. The 31 July attack reportedly killed a six-year-old and injured 14 children, including a five-month-old infant. According to UNICEF, approximately 2,520 children have been killed or injured since February 2022. With more than 1,600 educational facilities damaged or destroyed, access to education has been severely curtailed and further compounded by disruptions to online learning due to repeated attacks on energy infrastructure. The deliberate and indiscriminate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure violates the core tenets of international humanitarian law. Sierra Leone reiterates its call on all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law. The principles of proportionality, precaution and distinction must be fully observed. We urge the parties to refrain from conducting military operations in and around civilian infrastructure, including energy, water and sanitation systems, health facilities and schools. Operations near nuclear installations or other critical civilian sites are especially unacceptable and carry risks of catastrophic consequences. Hospitals and schools must never be used for military purposes. With approximately 12.7 million people in Ukraine in need of some form of humanitarian assistance, Sierra Leone calls for the safe, sustained and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid, including to hard-to-reach areas and those close to the front lines. The international community must continue to support the humanitarian response plan for Ukraine and other efforts to facilitate the country’s recovery and reconstruction. After nearly four years of conflict, it is evident that the legitimate concerns of the parties cannot be resolved on the battlefield. Sierra Leone, therefore, renews its call for all sides to engage in good faith negotiations towards an immediate ceasefire as a first step towards a comprehensive and lasting peace. Finally, we reaffirm our unwavering support for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders.

At the outset, I would like to join others in commending Pakistan for its excellent leadership in the Council last month and in congratulating the Republic of Panama on assuming the presidency for the month of August. We promise you, Mr. President, our full support. I also thank Assistant Secretary-General Jenča for his sobering briefing and welcome the representatives of Ukraine, Lithuania, Poland and the European Union to this meeting. We find ourselves here, once again, to discuss the most recent horrific attack against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. Today represents our third meeting in a little more than a week, since the Council convened to urgently call for In the early hours of Thursday morning, Russia launched a particularly brutal drone and missile assault on the sleeping residents of Kyiv, killing at least 31 Ukrainians, five of whom were children, including a 6-year-old boy and his mother, and injuring more than 200 others, among them scores of children. These shameful attacks represent the largest number of children wounded in Kyiv in one night since this illegal war began. The Republic of Korea strongly condemns the indiscriminate and intensifying attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure by Russia. These attacks directly constitute clear violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. Civilians must be protected and should never be targeted. However, time and time again, this is exactly what we see from the aggressor in this illicit, destructive, overlong war. In this connection, my Government reiterates its urgent appeal for an immediate, full and unconditional cessation of all hostilities. We note with appreciation recent United States proposals calling for an expedited timeline to reach an agreement to end this war. Time is of the essence, as each night and successive wave of drone attacks brings increasing death and physical and psychological horror for Ukrainian civilians, especially vulnerable populations. The only way to stop future atrocities, future destruction and future violations of international humanitarian law is to stop this war. We reiterate our appeals to Russia to respond to the increasingly vocal and unified calls of the international community to cease its brutal attacks and instead lay the foundations of peace by taking tangible steps towards an end of war agreement.

I congratulate Panama on assuming the Security Council presidency. I also wish to express appreciation to Pakistan for their successful tenure as President of the Council. I thank Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča for his briefing. I welcome the representative of Ukraine to this meeting. The Russia-Ukraine war should never have started and would not have, under President Trump’s leadership. It has been the largest and deadliest war in Europe since the Second World War and continues to wreak unconscionable death and destruction. Generations of Russians and Ukrainians have been tragically lost. On 31 July, Russia launched 309 attack drones and eight missiles against Ukraine. This latest round of attacks has so far killed 11 civilians, including a 6-year-old boy in Kyiv, and has injured at least another 130 people throughout Ukraine’s populated areas. The attacks set fire to and destroyed residential buildings and the children’s ward of a medical facility. The United States condemns these attacks. For more than three and a half years, the United States and many other countries have implored an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, as did the Council in adopting its resolution 2774 (2025), in February. Last month, Russia launched more than 6,400 drones, an 18 per cent increase from its previous record of 5,438 drones in one month, which was set in June. These attacks must stop. In the light of Russia’s intensified aerial assaults on Ukraine and the increasing toll on civilian life, on 29 July, President Trump clearly stated a peace deal must be done within 10 days. Otherwise, the United States is prepared to implement additional measures to secure peace.

At the outset, Mr. President, I would like to extend warm congratulations to you and your delegation on Panama’s assumption of the presidency of the Security Council. I would also like to thank Pakistan for its effective leadership last month and commend you both for the prompt and seamless coordination in responding to the request for today’s meeting. We thank Assistant Secretary-General Jenča for the updates provided and welcome the participation of the representatives of Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine and the European Union in the meeting. We are once again compelled to address tragic developments on the front lines in Ukraine, following drone and missile attacks in Kyiv yesterday, which struck residential buildings, schools and hospitals. In his letter to the Security Council, the Permanent Representative of Ukraine reported that more than 300 drones and missiles were unleashed on densely populated residential areas in Ukraine, killing several people and injuring more than 100. Despite repeated calls in the Council to uphold international humanitarian law and the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution, we continue to receive reports of increasing civilian casualties resulting from attacks against civilian infrastructure or targets located in densely populated or residential areas. There have also been reports of attacks targeting civilians in some regions. Many of these have been substantiated by official reports from United Nations agencies and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has also confirmed a 37 per cent rise in civilian casualties between December 2024 and May 2025, compared to the same period in the previous year. Its report also noted that in most cases, explosive weapons with wide-area effects were used in urban areas, along with short-range combat drones, the use of which has also increased. As we assess the situation before us, a pattern emerges that indicates that the attacks are becoming excessive and carried out in a manner that shows a blatant disregard for international humanitarian law. This cannot and must not be tolerated. The rising death toll in this war demands that we move beyond moral condemnation and deliver urgent action. Members of the Security Council have repeatedly made clear their expectation that the parties must commit in good faith to a diplomatic process aimed at ending the war. Yet, where we expected genuine dialogue, we see aggression and derision. The international community has a solemn duty and responsibility to bring this war to a peaceful and definitive end and must no longer tolerate this affront to its goodwill and genuine efforts. The members of the Security Council must also do more to advance the implementation of resolution 2774 (2025). We must change the dangerous trajectory that this conflict is taking. The month of August holds profound significance for Ukrainians. In three weeks, they will celebrate their thirty-fourth independence anniversary — an occasion that is meant to be a time of celebration and reflection and one where they reaffirm their right as a nation to freely determine their political status and pursue economic, social and cultural development without external interference. Regrettably, this year, like the past three, will also be filled with deep pain and sorrow as they mourn all that has been lost in this war. This 24 August should be the last anniversary spent in conflict. Guyana renews its call on the parties to show the courage and political will that is needed to resolve the conflict now, peacefully and in line with international law. At present, the Ukraine crisis is at a crucial stage. All parties should move in the same direction, build greater consensus and make more efforts to achieve a political solution. I would like to highlight three points. First, the parties to the conflict should prioritize the humanitarian and livelihood needs of the people, spare no effort to protect civilians, strictly abide by international humanitarian law and refrain from attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure. Secondly, the parties to the conflict should work towards de-escalating the situation on the battlefield without delay, show political will and flexibility and maintain the momentum of peace talks, making efforts to reach a comprehensive, lasting and binding peace agreement through dialogue and negotiations. Thirdly, the international community, in particular major stakeholders, should actively push for a ceasefire, promote peace talks and create a positive atmosphere and favourable conditions for a political solution to the crisis, providing such assistance as is needed. In the past seven days, the Security Council has discussed the Ukraine issue three times. While we spend time and energy holding repeated Council meetings, we should invest more time and energy in mediation and promoting peace talks. Guided by the four “shoulds” proposed by President Xi Jinping, China will continue to advocate for peace, encourage and facilitate peace talks and work alongside the international community to play a positive and constructive role in achieving a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

Allow me once again to congratulate you, Mr. President, and Panama as you take up the presidency for the month of August. You can count on my delegation’s full support. I wish to express my appreciation to Assistant Secretary-General Jenča for his thorough and sobering briefing. My delegation remains gravely concerned about the continued deterioration of the humanitarian and security situation in Ukraine. The latest developments only reinforce the urgency and complexity of the crisis. We are deeply troubled by the ongoing escalation of attacks affecting civilians and essential civilian infrastructure. The protection of civilians and the protection of critical infrastructure are obligations enshrined in international law. We reiterate that all parties to the conflict must respect and uphold these principles without exception. We remain convinced that there can be no military solution to this conflict. Continued hostilities serve only to prolong suffering and further diminish prospects for a sustainable peace. Dialogue and diplomacy are the sole means to bring an end to this long-standing conflict and achieve sustainable peace. We take note of the ongoing discussions in Istanbul between the Russian Federation and Ukraine concerning the exchange of prisoners of war. While these negotiations are not without challenges, they represent a constructive step on the humanitarian track. We emphasize the important role of the international community in supporting diplomatic initiatives and fostering conditions conducive to a peaceful settlement. Any durable resolution will require compromise, confidence-building measures and genuine commitment to dialogue. We call on all parties to exercise restraint, recommit to diplomatic efforts and work towards an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Panama. Panama thanks Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča for his detailed briefing, which illustrated the recent lamentable developments in this conflict. We also acknowledge the presence of the delegations joining us today. In the past seven days, the Security Council has already met on three occasions to address the situation in Ukraine under various names and convened by various actors. While it perhaps reflects the gravity of the situation on the ground, this reality prevents Council members from addressing the facts with the foresight and responsibility they warrant. Panama notes with concern that the Council, which is called on to be the principal guarantor of international peace and security, is devoting a significant amount of time and resources to constantly debating certain issues without translating those debates into effective decisions and/or actions. Although well-intentioned, this practice results in a dangerous institutional paralysis. Over the decades, the United Nations has built, with effort, sacrifice, principles and consensus, a normative framework aimed at protecting civilians. That body of law, enshrined in international humanitarian law, represents not only a legal obligation but an ethical imperative that should unite all Member States. In the past few days, we have witnessed a new chapter of human tragedy, as became evident during yesterday’s Council meeting (see S/PV.9970). Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, and other regions of Ukraine, suffered an air offensive, using drones and missiles, of unprecedented violence. These events should not, and cannot, be accepted with resignation. However, the world does not need more statements; it needs tangible results. The victims of war do not seek only solidarity, but also decisive action from the international community to achieve peace. To achieve that, it is not necessarily constructive to pursue a diplomatic strategy that, over consecutive meetings, uses this Chamber as a convenient platform for endlessly launching successive accusations and ripostes, as if this were a game of ping-pong. Unfortunately, the situation is not a game; it is a grave, sad and protracted conflict in which, every day, civilians and military personnel from Ukraine and the Russian Federation continue to die. Panama therefore reiterates once again its urgent call for a ceasefire to put an end to the war and urges the parties to continue in earnest, through diplomatic channels, the talks aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace. We make this call with the deep conviction that peace is not imposed by the weight of power but rather is and must be built with the political will of all actors and respect for human dignity. We raise our voices not only for those who have lost their lives in armed conflict, but also for those who still risk their lives in the hope that this Organization will effectively fulfil its founding promise: to save future generations from the scourge of war. Panama believes in multilateralism, but in one that acts; that transforms mandates into solutions; that is not subject to vetoes but rather responds to respect and collective responsibility. I resume my functions as President of the Council. I now give the floor to the representative of Ukraine. I express my gratitude to the presidency of Panama for convening this emergency meeting which Ukraine requested. I also commend Assistant Secretary-General Jenča for his comprehensive briefing. Today, Ukrainian national flags in the cities and villages of our country are at half-mast to mark the day of mourning for the victims of another terrorist act by the Russian Federation, the commitment of which Russia just recognized in this Chamber. On the night of 31 July, Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine with 309 attack drones and eight cruise missiles. Our air defences intercepted most, but not all, of them. Some broke through. Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, was the main target, with attacks also hitting the Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, Sumy and Mykolaiv regions. As of now, at least 31 civilians, including five children, fell victims to the attack on Kyiv. One hundred and fifty-nine civilians, including 16 children, were wounded across the capital. One of the Russian missiles struck a multistorey residential complex in the capital. A section of the building collapsed entirely, reduced to debris and silence, along with the lives of people who called it home. Families were buried under rubble. Additionally, one private house was destroyed, and more than 40 civilian infrastructure facilities were damaged. That attack was preceded by another terrorist act carried out two days before when Russia bombed a prison facility in the Zaporizhzhia region. Not by mistake, they dropped bombs from the sky, knowing civilians were inside. Sixteen people were killed; 43 more were left wounded. Those were not accidents or collateral damage. Those were deliberate acts of terror by a Moscow regime that heard the world’s calls for peace and responded with bloodshed. Once again, the world witnessed Russia’s response to our desire for peace, shared with the United States and Europe: new killings and more destroyed homes. It is a deliberate campaign to terrorize civilians and destroy any notion of normal life in Ukraine. That effort is propped up by Iran and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, in blatant defiance of numerous Security Council resolutions. Those regimes supply Moscow with drones, missiles and ammunition, while Chinese companies continue to provide dual-use goods and equipment, contributions that further fuel Russia’s ability to wage war and deepen the suffering inflicted on our people. The Russian regime will not stop if it is not forced to. If we fail to confront it, it will continue its aggression and illegal occupation and will commit more and more war crimes and crimes against humanity, including torture, inhumane treatment of civilians and prisoners of war, widespread sexual violence, the deportation of civilians and children, the destruction of cultural heritage, and acts of ecocide and environmental devastation. In the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, Russia is committing systematic atrocities, turning the lives of millions of its people into a living nightmare. Putin’s decree of 20 March mandates the forced expulsion of Ukrainian citizens from occupied Ukrainian territories or forces them to undergo procedures aimed at forced integration and passportization by 10 September. Concurrently, it is conducting forced mobilization in the occupied Ukrainian territories. Those actions are part of a genocidal policy aimed at the extermination of the Ukrainian people. The Kremlin wages this war because it sustains its regime. It is a war that he cannot win but refuses to end. Real peace will come only through diplomacy backed by strength. Even Russian dictator Putin has cynically and unequivocally admitted the truth behind Russia’s war against Ukraine: for the Kremlin, war is not a tragedy; it is a thrill. In December 2024, Putin remarked that when everything is calm, measured and stable, Russians get bored. It feels like stagnation. They want some action or so- called dvizhuha. That chilling confession reveals that all the justifications we have heard from Russia since 2014 are pure lies. What Putin and his criminal regime truly seek are imperial conquest, consolidation of power and violence. The Russian delegation sits in this Chamber and speaks of diplomacy, while their missiles and combat drones strike people’s homes, hospitals and kindergartens. They talk about negotiations, while expanding the front line and conscripting more men to die in a war of their own choosing and making. Russia is awaiting the dissolution of international law. It believes that the world will look away and that justice will be avoided. Russia should not get ahead of itself. That will not happen. Russian illusions will shatter against the unbreakable resiliency of the Ukrainian people. Russian illusions will shatter against the unyielding will of the international community, because we stand united in defence of justice and freedom. Ukraine will continue to fight for its people, for its sovereignty and for its future. Our goal remains a comprehensive, just and lasting peace rooted in the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is ready to meet Putin, since all actual decisions in Russia can be made only by him. During the most recent meeting with the Russian delegation in Istanbul, on 23 July, we proposed to organize such a meeting before the end of August, but no progress has been made. We understand who makes the decisions in Russia and who must put an end to this war. The world understands this as well. Ukraine calls for moving beyond public statements and technical-level discussions to direct talks between leaders. The United States has proposed this. Ukraine has supported it. What is needed now is Russia’s readiness. As there have been no positive developments on other critical elements of the discussions, a full and unconditional ceasefire for at least 30 days is needed to restore confidence and enable meaningful negotiations. Although this latest round of Istanbul talks yielded certain results in the humanitarian sphere, in particular concerning the exchange of prisoners, the Russian side, as before, shows no serious intention of establishing a genuine peace. The Kremlin’s aim is to create the illusion of a diplomatic process to delay sanctions and buy time in order to occupy more territory. By doing this while also shelling and bombing Ukrainian civilians, Putin is sending a signal of disrespect to all those who are committed to ending the killings. That is why we reiterate our call on the members of the Council to adopt a resolution demanding a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire between the Russian Federation and Ukraine. The world counts on the strength of the Council’s voice and the urgent decisiveness of its action to bring this war to an end. Let us be clear: Russia’s war of annihilation demands not only a condemnation, but also a collective stand that is coordinated, sustained and rooted in the principles that define the United Nations. The time has come for all to act accordingly, without delay.

I now give the floor to the representative of Lithuania.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia and my own country, Lithuania. We also align ourselves with the statement to be delivered by the representative of the European Union. We are grateful to the presidency of Panama for calling this timely meeting today. We also thank Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča for his briefing and the continued substantive reporting by the United Nations on the unbearable human suffering and civilian casualties in Ukraine caused by Russia’s ongoing attacks on Ukrainian cities. The Baltic States reiterate their full support for the United Nations and its agencies’ humanitarian work and assistance provided to Ukraine. The international community must not wait to condemn Russia’s cruelty. We cannot afford silence or fatigue, neither in the region nor here, in the global forum of nations. If the aggressor is not stopped now, we will face further escalation, which will destabilize global peace and security. In the series of recent massive attacks by Russia on the night of 31 July, Kyiv has witnessed yet another brutal large-scale onslaught targeting innocent civilians, in which the number of civilians killed has already reached 31, including five children. The numbers of dead and injured are likely to grow as rescuers work, day and night, searching for trapped people in the rubble of the destroyed residential buildings. We also express our strong concern about the recent attacks against and near Ukraine’s nuclear energy infrastructure. We call on Russia to halt such dangerous attacks, which are also prohibited under international humanitarian law. Through multiple General Assembly resolutions, the international community has repeatedly condemned Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and demanded to end it. The resolution adopted by the Council in February (resolution 2774 (2025)) urged lasting peace, but Russia is flatly rejecting all appeals to stop its aggression. On the contrary, we are witnessing an intensive escalation of attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, including residential buildings, educational, religious, medical and detention facilities and evacuation infrastructure. Once again, Russia demonstrates that it does not want peace, but rather a complete subjugation and annihilation of Ukraine. The Baltic States reiterate their full support for United States President Donald Trump’s call on Russia to immediately agree to a ceasefire. However, instead of seeking a diplomatic solution, the Russian representatives keep making cynical statements justifying the Kremlin’s intention to continue this brutal war of aggression in pursuit of its imperial, neocolonial ambitions. We would like to call on those supporting Russia’s war effort by providing military, economic, technological or diplomatic assistance to consider the broader costs. Any support for the aggressor makes possible attacks such as these on civilians and civilian infrastructure and contributes to destabilizing global peace and security. The Security Council must take a decision demanding Russia’s immediate compliance with its obligations under international law. Responsibility and consequences for the war crimes committed in this war of aggression and for the crime of aggression itself must be ensured. The Baltic States reaffirm their strong commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and we will support Ukraine with whatever it takes to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on international law, including the United Nations Charter.

I now give the floor to the representative of Poland.

Let me begin by thanking you, Mr. President, for convening this important meeting on the very first day of your presidency of the Council, and we congratulate you on your assumption thereof. We also thank Assistant Secretary-General Jenča for his briefing. Poland welcomes the opportunity to address the Council on this cardinal subject. Today’s briefing marks another meeting on Ukraine in just a few days. It reflects both the momentum of international engagement and the extent of Russia’s determination to continue this brutal war against the people of Ukraine. The distorted Russian narrative about this aggression and the dissemination of disinformation, which we heard again today and especially yesterday (see S/PV.9970) in this Chamber, will not wash away Russia’s responsibility for its atrocities. It will not undermine the facts about the nature of this war. And it will not divert us from our goal: peace in Ukraine, in our region and in Europe. And we should never tire of demanding peace for Ukraine. For more than 1,200 days now, Russia has been defying international law and ignoring the will of the international community as expressed in numerous resolutions of this Organization, including the Security Council, that call on Russia to stop its illegal and neocolonial aggression against Ukraine. The intensity of Russia`s air raids against Ukraine is growing tremendously, as we heard. The recent large-scale Russian missile and drone strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities have again cost numerous civilian lives. As we heard, yesterday’s attack at dawn on Ukraine’s capital resulted in 31 deaths, including children, and approximately 160 serious injuries, with scores more people hospitalized. Non-military objects were Russia’s targets yet again; residential buildings, including a multi-floor apartment block, hospitals and other civilian objects were heavily damaged or completely destroyed, causing immense human suffering. The pain inflicted on civilians is unbearable and must end, especially for innocent Ukrainian children being killed, injured or kidnapped and taken to Russia. In that context, we remind Council members that purposefully attacking civilians and civilian objects is a war crime and an act of State terrorism. These attacks demonstrate yet again that Russia is not interested in a ceasefire, let alone a durable peace. Despite public declarations of love of peace, Moscow’s In that respect, we strongly urge all States to use the full toolkit of measures available to exert maximum pressure on Russia and to refrain from fuelling the ongoing aggression against Ukraine. Moreover, we continue to call for holding Russia fully accountable for violations of international law and human rights, and for war crimes and crimes of aggression at both the State and individual levels. In conclusion, we renew our firm call for Russia to change its course, to declare a ceasefire, to stop attacking civilians and to enter the path of negotiations. Poland stands proudly and steadfastly at the forefront of similar appeals from various world capitals. Here again — in this very Chamber — we reaffirm our support for Ukraine’s right to self-defence, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. We pledge to continue helping our neighbour as long as it takes.

I now give the floor to Mr. Beck.

Let me join others in congratulating you, Mr. President, on assuming the presidency of the Council for the month of August. I thank you for convening this emergency meeting. And I thank the briefer, Assistant Secretary-General Jenča, for his update. The news and images from Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities are harrowing. Every day, ordinary civilians are paying the ultimate price of Russia’s unprovoked and illegal aggression. Russia must immediately cease its indiscriminate missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities and towns. Intentionally directing an attack against civilians or civilian objects or causing disproportionate civilian harm is a war crime. The European Union (EU) supports an immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire. Ukraine and other international partners, including the United States, have called for this too. Such a pause in hostilities could serve as a vital step towards reducing civilian suffering and allowing for further exchanges of prisoners of war and the return of forcibly displaced Ukrainian children. In February, Russia voted in favour of a resolution 2774 (2025), imploring a swift end to the conflict. Why has it not followed suit? We call on the Security Council to exert maximum pressure for a ceasefire. That would provide space for meaningful talks aimed at ending Russia’s war of aggression and achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, grounded in the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law. Furthermore, the EU strongly condemns support by third countries and actors and entities therein that enable Russia to sustain its war of aggression. We urge all countries to immediately cease any direct or indirect assistance to Russia in its war of aggression. In closing, I reaffirm the EU’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. The EU will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes.