United Nations Security Council

“ We know the importance of respecting the voice and integrity of all countries, big or small. Most fundamentally, we know the value of peace. We believe that one State threatening and using lethal force against another to get its way or to expand its territory is no solution.
⁠Let us be clear — the internationally recognized borders of Ukraine have not changed. The decision of Russia to recognize as independent entities the non-Government-controlled areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine does not change those borders one iota. ”

“ This is the fourth time that the Security Council is meeting on Ukraine in a matter of weeks. Every time we meet, the reality on the ground confirms bit by bit what some of us have been anticipating. Russia has been saying one thing and doing the opposite. We were told that troops were retreating when their number has only increased. We were told to stop the hysteria since troops were in Russian territory. That is no longer the case. They are invading a neighbour, unprovoked with false pretexts, false narratives and fabricated news. ”

“ For several months, the President of the Russian Federation has been patiently preparing the ground for a major offensive against Ukraine. He has amassed soldiers and weapons on a scale not seen since the end of the Second World War. He has incited violence through lies and disinformation. He has even denied the very legitimacy of the Ukrainian State. He has undermined the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine by recognizing the independence of parts of Ukrainian territory. ”

“ Refugees continue to flow into Russia. In a word, the nature of provocations by Ukraine’s armed forces has not changed. Members would prefer to ignore that fact and repeat Ukraine’s fairy tales that those living in Donetsk are bombing themselves.
⁠ It is no surprise that the ever-increasing suffering of those living in Donbas does not appear to affect our Western colleagues. At today’s General Assembly debate, they were unable to find one word of compassion or sympathy for the residents of Donbas. It is as if, for them, those 4 million people do not exist. ”

“ In doing so, the Charter bestowed on them a special responsibility that reflected the sacrifices that they had made to defeat a unique evil to humankind. We believe that the leaders who designed today’s multilateral system were profoundly humbled by the catastrophic war that they had survived, so much so that they were inspired to erect the sovereign equality of States as a central pillar of our United Nations. ”

“ We urge that that avowed commitment to diplomacy to which the Russian Federation alluded be backed by present actions that de-escalate the situation on the ground and permit an atmosphere for dialogue. We note with concern the risk that an escalation of the situation in Ukraine holds for global peace, and we stress that those that choose the path of conflict rather than peace bear the consequences of their actions. ”

“ Norway strongly condemns the decision by President Putin to send Russian troops into the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and the latest announcement of a special military operation. Those decisions are unjustified, unprovoked and irresponsible. We call on Russia to reverse those decisions and to immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all its military forces from the territory of Ukraine and the vicinity of its internationally recognized borders. ”

“ Furthermore, there are still obstacles to the delivery of humanitarian assistance to some of those in need, which existed even before the recent tensions arose, particularly in the areas near the contact line in eastern Ukraine.
⁠ Any further escalation could worsen the humanitarian situation for a larger number of civilians. We therefore emphasize the importance of de-escalation and a ceasefire. In that regard, we urge all parties not to obstruct access to humanitarian aid or the movement of civilians in conflict areas, in accordance with their obligations under international law. ”

“ The representative of Ukraine has asked for the floor to make a further statement; I give him the floor.
⁠ Mr. Kyslytsya (Ukraine) : As I said, Sir, relinquish your duties as President of the Council; call President Putin and call Foreign Minister Lavrov to stop the aggression.
⁠ I welcome the decision of some members of the Council to meet as soon as possible to consider the necessary decision that would condemn the aggression that the Russian Federation has launched against my people.
⁠ There is no purgatory for war criminals; they go straight to hell. ”

“ Without seeing our geopolitical perspective, one will never understand us. But those for whom the decisions that I mentioned earlier were made have been forgotten and disregarded during the past eight years and labelled as mere pro-Russian separatists and terrorists, and they are eternally grateful to us. ”

“ For our Western colleagues, the people living in the Donbas are nothing but a bargaining chip in a geopolitical game aimed at weakening Russia and moving the NATO bloc closer to its borders. For us, they are women, children and elderly people who have had to hide from Ukrainian bombardments and provocations for eight years now. ”

“ Their refusal to join the consensus, above and beyond the pressure to which their delegations were subjected in New York, as well as in capitals at the time, not too long ago, translates to a lack of understanding and, perhaps, apathy on the part of several members of the international community concerning the persistence of zones of influence we thought had ended in the post-colonization era and following the fall of the Berlin Wall. ”