UN Transcripts — https://transcripts.un.org/en/sc/10160
Maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine - Security Council, 10160th meeting — Security Council — 28 May 2026
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China · President [0:04]:

The 10,160th meeting of the Security Council is called to order. The provisional agenda for this meeting is maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine. The agenda is adopted. In accordance with Rule 37 of the Council's Provisional Rules of Procedure, I invite the representatives of Finland, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Ukraine to participate in this meeting. It is so decided. In accordance with Rule 39 of the Council's Provisional Rules of Procedure, I invite Mr. Khaled Kihari Assistant Secretary General, Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, to participate in this meeting. It is so decided. In accordance with Rule 39 of the Council's Provisional Rules of Procedure, I also invite Her Excellency Ms. Hida Samson, Chargée d'Affaires ad interim of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations, to participate in this meeting. It is so decided. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of Item 2 of the agenda. I warmly welcome the Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. António Guterres, and give him the floor.


UN · SG · António Guterres [1:39]:

Mr. President, with your permission, I will make some brief remarks and Assistant Secretary-General Chiari will provide a detailed briefing. Thank you, Mr. President. Excellencies, allow me to make a direct appeal. The large-scale strikes launched by the Russian Federation across Ukraine on 23rd-24th of May, and the prospect of further such attacks, underscore the gravity of this moment. Since February 2022, more than 15,000 civilians have been killed in Ukraine—nearly 800 children among them—as verified by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Reports from the Russian Federation indicated also a growing number of civilian casualties, including children. Humanitarian personnel have come under attack. Serious violations of international humanitarian law continue. The human toll is increasing. In the first 4 months of this year, more civilians have been killed in Ukraine than in the same period in 2025, or 2024, or 2023. The frontline is virtually frozen with swarms of drones inflicting heavy casualties. And civilian infrastructure is being destroyed on a vast scale, especially energy infrastructure. This could go on and on and on. But the direction of the war, the escalation and intensification that we are witnessing, risks to get out of control. The risk of miscalculation. The risk of escalation with unknown and unintended consequences. And so let's speak plainly: the current course is not sustainable. The trajectory must change. The death spiral must stop. What is needed now is de-escalation, immediate and sustained. What is needed now is a full and unconditional ceasefire. What is needed now is more diplomacy. And what is needed is to create the conditions for a just, lasting and comprehensive peace, in line with the Charter of the United Nations, international law and UN resolutions. Mr. President, Excellencies, the choice is clear. The responsibility is clear. The time for peace is now. And I thank you.


China · President [4:12]:

I thank the Secretary-General for his briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Khaled Kihari.


UN · ASG · Khaled Kihari [4:21]:

Mr. President, as the Secretary-General just As stated, today's meeting takes place against the backdrop of an alarming escalation of the war in Ukraine. On the night of 23rd and 24th of May, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation launched a massive strike across Ukraine, reportedly deploying as many as 90 long-range missiles and 600 drones. Among the weapons used were the so-called Oreshnik, intermediate-range ballistic missile, which targeted the city of Bila Tserkva in central Ukraine. This marks the third known instance of the use of this weapon by the Russian Federation in Ukraine. At least 5 people were reported killed and at least 112 others injured across Ukraine, with the heaviest toll in Kyiv. The city's more than 2 million residents endured over 7 hours of explosions, impacting dozens of residential buildings. According to UNESCO, more than 30 cultural sites were reportedly damaged in this latest wave of attacks. The diplomatic residence of the Albanian ambassador and the compound housing the United Nations Resident Coordinator and several UN agencies were impacted by falling debris from strikes in central Kyiv. Fortunately, no UN staff members were injured. Attacks continued into this week, impacting civilians across southern and eastern Ukraine. Russian Federation authorities have also reported rising civilian casualties from alleged Ukrainian strikes. On 25 May, 2 civilians were reportedly killed in the Belgorod Bryansk regions. Mr. President, we remain deeply concerned over the recent announcements by the Russian Federation of plans to conduct, and I quote, consistent and systemic strikes against Ukrainian defense enterprises in Kyiv, as well as against decision-making centers and command posts, end of quote. This announcement followed reports of an Ukrainian drone a drone attack on a college building and dormitory in the Ukrainian city of Starobilsk that is presently occupied by the Russian Federation. We strongly condemn all attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. Such attacks, wherever they occur, violate international humanitarian law. They must cease immediately. Civilians must be protected. Mr. President, the United Nations and our humanitarian partners continue to operate under extremely dangerous conditions to reach civilians in need. In the past 2 weeks, United Nations humanitarian personnel, humanitarian partners, and assets have come under attack on 5 occasions. This is unacceptable. Humanitarian personnel and clearly marked Humanitarian missions must be protected at all times in accordance with international humanitarian law. The United Nations stands ready to work with both sides to ensure safe, sustained, and unimpeded humanitarian access to communities in need, wherever they may be. Despite the challenging conditions, the United Nations continues to support recovery and reconstruction efforts, as well as human rights monitoring and advocacy. The United Nations is also focused on efforts to facilitate the safe return of deported and forcibly transferred Ukrainian children, including through the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflict. Mr. President, in its fifth year, Russian Federation's full-scale invasion of Ukraine continues to exact a profound toll disrupting global trade and economy, deepening regional and international divisions, and eroding trust in the multilateral system. With each passing day diplomacy is delayed, the threat to regional and international peace and security deepens. An urgent return to dialogue and negotiations remains imperative. The United Nations will continue to fully support all meaningful efforts to that end. Thank you.


China · President [8:54]:

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


Latvia [9:09]:

Thank you, Mr. President, and I thank the Secretary-General for his presence and his introduction, and H.G. Currie for his factual briefing. Today, the Council meets again to condemn a new level of atrocities and other violations of international law by Russian Federation, worse with every time. On 23rd, 24th of May, Russia launched the largest ever combined missile attack against Kyiv. In this massive assault, Russia attacked Ukrainian civilians with over 90 missiles, including 36 ballistic weapons, one of them a Reshnik nuclear-capable hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile, and 600 attack drones. Russia's barbaric indiscriminate strikes killed at least 4 people, and injured more than 100 others. Russia deliberately and knowingly wages a war against civilians. According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, from January to April 2024, Russia killed at least 815 civilians and injured 4,174. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, This Council has held more than 100 meetings on Russia's aggression against Ukraine. To date, more than 213,200 potential war crimes have been registered, from unlawful deportations, executions, to systematic and widespread torture and conflict-related sexual violence. As a matter of example, last year in Kherson region alone, drone attacks caused around 2,200 civilian casualties. Mr. President, amongst the so-called military targets last weekend were also 350 residential buildings, the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the residence of the ambassador for Albania, a building housing several UN agencies, a number of cultural and historic sites, including National Philharmonic, the Dynamo football stadium, and the Chernobyl Museum. That museum, just opened after renovation, is dedicated to preserving the historical memory of the biggest tragedy caused by Soviet Union's utter disregard for human life. This is the same disregard for human life that Russia demonstrates today. Even if the museum building is gone, the memory of those crimes then, as well as the atrocities committed by Russia now, will not be forgotten. To add to this list, just yesterday, a children's playground in Kherson region was attacked, killing the father,— injuring the mother and her 3- and 6-year-old daughters. The mother is in critical condition in the hospital. She has 2 more children who luckily were not at the playground that day. Which one of these atrocities qualifies as a legitimate military target? Mr. President, Russia continues to attack the UN system and UN personnel. Not only rhetorically, but literally. While the world has been calling for a ceasefire, Russia has rejected at least 7 peace or ceasefire proposals last year alone. Still, Latvia continues to call for an immediate, full, and unconditional ceasefire. Russia cannot win this war on the battlefield. In 2026, it is more visible than ever. No territorial gains, Increasing reports on net losses, staggering rate of military casualties and equipment destroyed. Its model of war is going nowhere. Russia has turned itself into the ultimate architect of its own economic, intellectual, and societal decline. It has decided to escalate its longstanding narrative of victimhood, lies, and conspiracies. Unable to win this war, Russia takes the path of threats and intimidation, and it is a path of self-destruction. Most recently, on May 25th, Russia issued another threat calling on foreign citizens, including the personnel of diplomatic missions, to leave Kyiv due to plans to carry out more strikes. Russia's threats will not intimidate us. We are not leaving Kyiv. Our diplomats will continue their work. It is Russia that must leave the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine. Mr. President, Ukraine will survive. Ukraine will overcome. And Ukraine will thrive despite Russia's aggression. Ukrainian innovation and technology are cutting edge. Ukraine's economy is resilient. And the strength and will of the Ukrainian people is unbreakable. Let me give you one more vivid example. Over that weekend, a newly opened coffee shop in Kyiv was damaged by Russia's strikes. It was just newly opened, but the coffee machine still worked. So the owners cleared the rubble and customers lined up for morning coffee. This is the Ukrainian spirit, the spirit of courage., the spirit of freedom, the spirit of not giving up, no matter how tired they are. Russia's intimidation, including threats of the use of force, will not weaken our resolve, and we continue to stand united with Ukraine against the illegal aggression. It is time to accept the Russian Empire is in the past and nothing will bring it back. I thank you.


China · President [15:22]:

I thank the representative of Latvia for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Denmark.


Denmark [15:28]:

Thank you, Mr. President. And I thank Secretary-General Guterres for his presence and powerful appeal, and Assistant Secretary for his briefing here today. Mr. President, for the third time in 10 days, this Council has convened to urgently address the humanitarian suffering caused by Russia's unprovoked— and brutal invasion of its peaceful neighbour Ukraine. Denmark strongly condemns Russia's deadly mass-casualty airstrikes on Kyiv and other population centres across Ukraine on May 24th. It was the most intense aerial attack Kyiv has endured since the beginning of the war. We are shocked and horrified by Russia's actions and extend our condolences to the latest civilian victims of this illegal war. These attacks represent yet another dramatic escalation. Military weapons with terrible destructive powers, including hypersonic missiles and nuclear-capable intermediate-range ballistic missiles, were unleashed, resulting in large-scale civilian casualties. Mr. President, for the third time in just 10 days, Denmark demands that international humanitarian law be fully respected. Without exception, and similarly demands also without exception full accountability and justice for all the crimes committed in this war of choice launched by Russia. Fundamental principles of international humanitarian law are distinction, proportionality, precaution, and military necessity. At the most basic, they demand the elementary consideration of humanity to limit and, if possible, avoid civilian harm. Instead, we have seen the exact opposite. Another Russian attack on Ukraine's cities with more than 100 casualties. Russia claims that it only conducts high-precision strikes exclusively on military targets. And let me name a few of these so-called military targets damaged or destroyed by Russia's attacks on 24 May. Dozens of residential buildings, a metro center being used as an air raid shelter, a school, a supermarket, and many important cultural institutions. UN experts have independently verified that Russia's full-scale invasion has so far killed and injured over 60,000 Ukrainian civilians, including more than 3,500 children. The true figures are likely much higher. Mr. President, last week Russia openly threatened military aggression against a fellow Council member. Now the Kremlin has threatened systematic attacks on Kyiv and demanded that international staff, including diplomats and humanitarian aid workers, leave the country. An admission that no sites, whether embassies or international humanitarian aid storages or convoys, are off limits to Russia's armed forces. Such threats are outrageous and cannot be tolerated. Mr. President, Ukraine has been offering an immediate, unconditional, and comprehensive ceasefire for well over a year. During that time, UN experts have told us that Russia's attacks on Ukrainian civilians have dramatically escalated. Russia's escalating attacks on civilians, its nuclear saber rattling, Threats against other peaceful neighbors and now against diplomats and international aid workers in Ukraine are signs of desperation in the face of unsustainable battlefield losses and massive economic headwinds. In closing, Mr. President, President Putin's illegal invasion to remove Ukraine's democratically elected leaders and redraw internationally recognized borders by force has failed. Ukraine has resisted resolutely. The only solution is a permanent ceasefire to allow for good-faith negotiations aimed at a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in line with the UN Charter. The longer Russia denies reality, the longer civilians will suffer. The international community must continue to pressure Russia to halt its invasion. Until that moment, Denmark reaffirms its steadfast support to Ukraine along with our partners. I thank you.


China · President [19:55]:

I thank the representative of Denmark. I give the floor to the representative of France.


France [20:02]:

Mr.

President, thank you for convening this meeting on the emergency situation in Ukraine yet once again. I would like to first of all thank the Secretary General for being here. And for the report which recalls the basic principles of the organization, which launches an appeal which we support, a comprehensive ceasefire. I also would like to thank the Assistant Secretary General Chiari. I thank him for his statement which confirms a further escalation of violence by Russia in the fifth year of its war of aggression against Ukraine. Mr. President, While the Russian army has been stalling for months on the front line, the Russian authorities have officially announced at the highest level a massive increase in their strikes on the Ukrainian capital, which has already been heavily hit since 2022. With nearly 600 drones and 90 missiles, the latest attack killed at least 4 people and wounded nearly 100 during the night of May 23rd to 24th. Many civilian buildings, many of which are part of the Ukrainian cultural and intellectual life, were affected. The National Museum of Fine Arts, for example, the Chernobyl Museum, the National Academy of Music, the Philharmonic Opera House, the National Library, several universities, and others. In addition to these cultural venues, which are places of identity and memory, a wastewater treatment plant, a vital civilian infrastructure, was also hit. Other regions have also been targeted including Kharkiv, Odessa, Sumy, and Zhytomyr. While the members of this council were denouncing last week the drone strikes on an OCHA humanitarian convoy in Kherson, a new missile strike targeted a World Food Programme warehouse in Dnipro, destroying food that was to be distributed to 130,000 people. Finally, and for the third time since the beginning of its full-scale war in 2022, Russia has used the Reshnik ballistic missile, which has a nuclear payload capacity. And everyone can see the reference under this fact. Mr. President, the escalation demonstrates the impasse in which Russia is trapped, refusing to engage in peace negotiations while Ukraine continues to repel its assaults on the ground. And while such negotiations have been offered, Russia is trying to compensate for its failures on the front line with further relentlessness on the Ukrainian capital against its population and humanitarian organizations working on the ground. This new Russian attempt to make a country bend by targeting civilian population and vital infrastructure contravenes the Geneva Convention. France denounces this new irresponsible escalation, and we pay tribute to the Ukrainian people, and we reiterate our unwavering support for Ukraine. Mr. President, France condemns Russia's unacceptable threats against Ukrainian civilians and against the diplomatic representations and international organizations present in Ukraine, as was expressed by the Russian Foreign Ministry and relayed by the permanent representative of Russia several days ago. This was assumed and claimed by the Russian side, and these threats are in flagrant contravention of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and international humanitarian law and are absolutely unacceptable, especially coming from a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. These statements do not in any way exempt Russia from respecting its international obligations. In solidarity with Ukraine since day one, France will maintain its embassy and its diplomatic staff in Kyiv. And I would like to salute our fellow diplomats serving in Ukraine. We are proud of you, and you have our full support. Mr. President, another path is possible. France calls on Russia to desist from this irresponsible escalation. It calls on them to engage in good faith in peace negotiations, the first step of which must be an immediate comprehensive an unconditional ceasefire as proposed yet once again by the UN Secretary-General and supported by the vast majority of member states. France, together with its partners, is ready to get involved in this journey and remains committed to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. I thank you.


China · President [24:48]:

I thank France for the statement. Now I give the floor to the representative of Greece.


Greece [24:53]:

Thank you, Mr.

President. We welcome the Secretary-General and thank him for his sobering remarks. And we also thank Assistant Secretary-General Kari for his briefing. Mr. President, the third meeting of this Council on Ukraine within 10 days is in itself proof enough of the need for concerted efforts to end this war. It is regrettable that we are experiencing— new levels of escalation owing to Russia's latest unwarranted and unjustified acts of aggression. Russia's attacks against Kyiv and its surrounding areas of last week, one of the largest combined air attacks against the Ukrainian capital since the beginning of the full-scale war, is a case in point. The massive and sustained nature of these attacks as well as the weapons and methods used, seem to imply that the purpose was to inflict as much damage and suffering as possible in the middle of an urban civilian-populated area and to directly impact Ukrainian morale. Over the past 3 days, hostilities and attacks across Ukraine have killed or injured more than 240 civilians, including many children, and those attacks have also damaged schools, energy infrastructure, and agricultural assets. We deplore the civilian casualties sustained by these attacks. We also deplore that more than 10 cultural institutions and 2 educational and research facilities were severely damaged in Kyiv, and we join UNESCO's in condemnation of any attacks against cultural property. In the same vein, we are deeply concerned over the damages sustained by diplomatic premises in Kyiv. The announcement by the Russian MFA on the 25th of May, 2026, calling on foreign citizens, including the personnel of diplomatic missions and international organizations, to leave Kyiv due to plans to carry out strikes is unacceptable. We call on Russia to abstain from such warnings or threats against diplomatic institutions and embassies in Kyiv in full respect of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. In that regard, regard, we reiterate that Greece condemns any attacks against civilians, civilian infrastructure, and humanitarian personnel wherever they may occur. We also wish to remind that protection of civilians in armed conflict is absolute, unconditional, and non-negotiable, and that compliance with international humanitarian law is not optional. We deplore any life lost and that adds to the suffering of this conflict and call for full accountability and justice for the victims. Mr. President, we are mindful that as Russia claims, these attacks were expressly conducted as retaliation against the deliberate strike against the school in Luhansk last week. As deliberated also in this Council, we are once again asking for access of the relevant UN agencies to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, which will ensure independent verification of such incidents. Mr. President, there are high risks of both vertical and horizontal escalation in this war, which need to be contained and reversed, not only to end the human suffering in Ukraine, but also to restore respect and trust to international law and the principles of the UN Charter, which all of the UN member states have agreed to uphold. As the Secretary-General said in this chamber two days ago, Violence in Ukraine is expanding in scale and complexity. Russia's repeated use of new destructive weapons, such as the Orensk medium-range ballistic missile with its nuclear capabilities, as well as the aggressive rhetoric against other neighboring states, threaten to expand the already catastrophic consequences of this war. It is thus clear to us that the need for an immediate, full, and unconditional ceasefire, which will allow for the resumption of diplomacy, has never been more urgent. We view this as a necessary step towards achieving a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace that will be firmly based on international law and the UN Charter, and in full respect of Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. Within its internationally recognized borders, rejecting any change of borders as a result of the use of force. I thank you.


China · President [30:04]:

I thank the representative of Greece for the statement. I give the floor to the representative of UK.


United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland [30:11]:

Thank you, President. I thank the Secretary-General and ASG Chiari for for briefing us today. The United Kingdom supported Ukraine in calling for today's meeting. Colleagues, last Friday Russia asked this Council to meet following an alleged incident in occupied Luhansk, which UN briefers said they had not been able to verify because Russia refuses access to Ukrainian territory which it occupies. The very next day, Russia launched one of its largest attacks on Kyiv since the start of the full-scale invasion. These strikes caused widespread damage to civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings, schools, emergency service facilities, Ukrainian government buildings, and cultural institutions. These are not just buildings. They sustain essential services and underpin communities. They are people's homes. So far this month, Russian attacks have killed nearly 200 civilians and injured over 1,500 more. May is on track to see the most civilian casualties in Ukraine since the early days of Russia's full-scale invasion. This weekend also marked the third time Russia has deployed an Oreshchynik missile, the first time in Kyiv Oblast. Russia's use of this nuclear-capable system in urban environments is brazen and reckless. We are also deeply concerned by reports that diplomatic sites in Kyiv were struck, including UN premises and a residential complex housing the Albanian Ambassador. And Russia followed up its attack with threats to diplomats to leave the city, warning of another barrage. Russia attempts to project strength through mass attacks, then comes to this chamber and plays the victim. But the truth is that Moscow's escalating attacks against civilians betray its weakness. Russia is desperate because it is going backwards on the battlefield. New intelligence shows that almost half a million Russian soldiers have been killed since the conflict began, while Ukraine still stands firm. Russia's war is failing, so Moscow is resorting to escalation and intimidation. Security Council members have been clear that we need peace. But such peace cannot be achieved while Russia continues its campaign against Ukraine's people. Russia's escalating attacks do nothing to bring us closer to a peaceful outcome, nor do they bring Russia any closer to achieving Putin's war aims. As the Secretary-General said, an immediate comprehensive ceasefire is essential. I thank you.


China · President [33:29]:

I thank the United Kingdom for the statement. I give the floor to the representative of Panama.


Panama [33:37]:

Señor Presidente. Mr. President, we thank the Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Assistant Secretary-General Khalid Kihari for their valuable contributions We recognize the participation of the distinguished delegations that are joining us today. Mr. President, today the Security Council is meeting for the third time in the space of a month to address the intensification of the conflict in Ukraine. We regret the fact that calls for a cessation of hostilities expressed in this Council have not been heeded by the parties involved in this conflict. On the contrary, as the Secretary-General said on Tuesday during the open debate on the strengthening of the Charter of the United Nations, Global military spending has reached unprecedented levels while lethal arms are becoming easier to access. The vast majority of the members here present have urged the resumption of conversations that would allow for moving towards a negotiated and lasting political solution, one that could put an end to this conflict in accordance with the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations. Just the day before yesterday, in the open debate, we referred to the commitment that all of the members of this organization made with the Charter and its principles— made to the Charter and its principles. And today, those principles need to prevail, and they must be our guide. Mr. President, Panama firmly maintains that the protection of civilians must constitute an unquestionable priority in this and in all conflicts. The protection of civilians cannot depend on political or military considerations. The recent attack against Ukraine combined around 600 drones and 90 missiles, including a hypersonic ballistic missile, which demonstrates a particularly alarming escalation in the level of violence being employed. Once again, we condemn the use of means of warfare of this magnitude against inhabited areas because of the grave humanitarian consequences that they entail and because of the risk of a further destabilization of the region. Moreover, we are concerned by damage to civilian infrastructure, the destruction of which exacerbates the impact of these attacks and jeopardizes cultural heritage, identity, and historic memory. Panama calls upon all of the parties to the conflict to commit to a sustained dialogue in good faith that could pave the way towards a genuine and firm commitment to de-escalate and to establish an immediate immediate, lasting, and verifiable ceasefire that would allow for a just and sustainable peace to be reached in Ukraine. It is the shared responsibility of this Council to work together to reduce tensions, to guarantee unrestricted access to humanitarian assistance, and to keep our commitment to human dignity. Thank you very much.


China · President [36:32]:

I thank the representative of Panama for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the United States.


United States of America [36:42]:

Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you to Secretary General Guterres. Thank you, sir. And Assistant Secretary General Chiari for your remarks today. The latest mass strikes against Kyiv by Russia over the weekend, including the deployment of the Oreshchennik hypersonic ballistic missiles, are an inexplicable, dangerous, and barbaric escalation. They are another example of why the Russia-Ukraine war must end immediately and permanently. Once again, as you've heard from your colleagues, civilians were killed and more than 100 injured. Museums, public transportation infrastructure, residential buildings, and more were destroyed or damaged. Deliberate attacks against civilians are obscene and unacceptable. The United States extends its deepest sympathies to all those affected. We caution Russia not to mount so-called systematic strikes against Kyiv, which risk further civilian casualties and setting back the prospect of peace. We note, too, with serious concern, Russia's apparent disregard for the protections afforded to diplomatic facilities and personnel under, under international law. We remind Russia in clear terms of its legal obligations, and we add diplomacy and negotiation are the only path forward towards lasting peace. Threats and incendiary rhetoric are clearly not part of that path. Kolleghi, the Russia-Ukraine war can only end with a negotiated settlement. The United States once again calls for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire as a step towards a durable, negotiated end to the war. The alternative is escalating violence that will spiral out of control. That is unacceptable. The war must stop. The United States calls on the Russian Federation to cease, and the international community, as the international community, calls for this system to break out of this cycle. We call for de-escalation, and we continue calls for both parties to negotiate in good faith to end this war. As Secretary Rubio said earlier this week, the United States stands prepared to play a constructive role as soon as any opportunity and real commitment from both parties presents itself. We are ready to do whatever is possible to stop the death and destruction. Thank you.


China · President [39:48]:

I thank the representative of the United States for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Colombia.


Colombia [39:56]:

Señor Presidente. Mr. President, I thank you for convening this emergency meeting, and I extend my greetings to the Secretary-General And my thanks to Mr. Khalid Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General, for the briefing presented. My greetings also to the delegations participating in today's meeting. Since we last met on Friday in this Council, we have seen another wave of attacks that continues to claim lives and to worsen the suffering of the civilian population. Far from seeing signs of restraint, we continue to witness a trend of escalation which is exacerbating the conflict and making the prospects for peace more remote. All too often, this Council hears reports of hospitals being affected, residential buildings being struck, warehouses being destroyed, and educational facilities being impacted. It is particularly alarming that many of these actions are taking place in densely populated areas where the use of explosive weapons with a wide area of impact has devastating consequences for the civilian population. These reports cannot become the normalized practice of this conflict. And yet, here we are once again Hearing about civilian victims and about damage to civilian objects, which should be protected at all times. It is not possible to accept a logic according to which each episode of violence seems to lead to further escalations while the civilian population and those that risk their lives to assist them continue to pay the price. For that reason, Colombia will remind this council as many times as is necessary that international humanitarian law prohibits attacks against the civilian population and objects of a civilian nature. These acts are inadmissible and may constitute war crimes. The obligations derived from the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution are binding. They are not optional, and they are being dangerously ignored time and time again. Mr. President, my country, in addition, notes with grave concern that this escalation is not being manifested solely on the ground. We also see it in language, in narratives of confrontation and in statements which, even in this Council, at times seem to deepen divisions instead of opening up space for diplomacy. We understand that this conflict is marked by profound differences and wounds, but the language of permanent confrontation cannot replace the language of peace. Words matter because they also can close or open the path towards dialogue and reconciliation. Mr. President, through Resolution 2774, this Council made a clear call for a rapid end to the conflict and urged for progress towards a lasting peace between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. Today, that appeal is more urgent than ever. Therefore, Colombia reiterates its call for effective dialogue channels, for concrete confidence-building measures, and for an immediate, real, and verifiable ceasefire as a first step towards a negotiated and lasting political solution. In those efforts, the role of mediators and those that try to keep spaces for diplomacy open are more important than ever. Thank you very much.


China · President [44:23]:

I thank the representative of Colombia for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Bahrain.


Bahrain [44:33]:

Thank you, Mr. President. At the outset, I would like to welcome His Excellency Mr. Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations. I also thank Mr. Khaled Kihari, the Assistant Secretary-General, for his briefing. We also welcome the delegations participating in today's meeting. Mr. President, we followed with grave concern the latest escalation in the Russian-Ukrainian war We express our deep regret towards the escalation in violence and the increase in attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, which has led to the death and injury of a number of innocent civilians who are shouldering the biggest burden of this war that has entered its 5th year. Mr. President, the Kingdom of Bahrain calls for de-escalation We call for dialogue and diplomacy and for supporting the efforts of a comprehensive and lasting peace. We reaffirm that political and diplomatic solutions are the optimal way to achieve peace and not a military option. We also reaffirm the need for resuming tripartite talks between the United States, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine. Based on serious and responsible political will to bring perspectives together and pave the way to relaunch a constructive negotiation path that would lead to a comprehensive and sustainable peace process. Mr. President, the Kingdom of Bahrain expresses its concern regarding The increasing use of advanced and lethal weapons in wars, including drones, ballistic missiles, and other modern military methods. These are worsening the challenges related to the adherence to the rules of international humanitarian law during armed conflict, especially when it comes to the distinguishing between military objects and civilian facilities, and given the danger it poses on the lives of innocent civilians. Mr. President, the Kingdom of Bahrain reaffirms the importance of continued diplomatic efforts and the importance of keeping dialogue channels open. We need to make the best use of diplomatic momentum to contribute in supporting the efforts of peace. We also reaffirmed the need to address the root causes of conflicts, and all security concerns of all parties should be taken into account to reach a peaceful, sustainable solution of the conflict and to guarantee security and stability in the European continent. In conclusion, Mr. President, the Kingdom of Bahrain reaffirms its support for a comprehensive political solution that ends this destructive war in line with the principles of the UN Charter, the rules of international law, and Security Council Resolution 2774 to contribute to maintaining international peace and security. I thank you.


China · President [48:07]:

I thank the representative of Bahrain for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Liberia.


Liberia [48:15]:

Thank you, Mr. President. Liberia thanks the Secretary-General for his presence and brief remarks, and also thank ASG Kiari for his briefing. We take the floor today not to relitigate the origins of this conflict, nor to assign blame that this Council has already assigned many times over. We take the floor because the situation on the ground has entered a phase that demands a different kind of response from us. Not louder condemnations, but more precise actions. The civilian toll is now measured in the tens of thousands. Infrastructure that entire populations depend on—power, water, medical care facilities—is being struck with regularity. Women and children are bearing disproportionate share of the displacement, deprivation, and long-term trauma that follow these attacks. Mr. President, Liberia recognizes that this conflict carries grievances, security concerns, and historical narratives on multiple sides. We do not dismiss that complexity. But complexity is not a legal exemption. Whatever the political origins of this war, the obligations of international humanitarian law apply uniformly to every party in every engagement. Liberia therefore urges both parties without delay to comply fully with their obligations under international law, including the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, the facilitation of safe and sustained humanitarian access, and cooperation with credible verification and independent investigation mechanisms. With that in mind, Liberia offers 3 concrete proposals designed to function even in the absence of a ceasefire. First, a protected systems compact. The Secretary-General should be mandated to maintain a live, satellite-verified registry of civilian critical infrastructure—power grids, water systems, medical facilities, humanitarian distribution sites—shared in real time with all parties. The principle is straightforward. What is visibly and verifiably protected is harder to strike with impunity. This is not a new legal obligation. It is an operational mechanism to make existing obligations more legible. Second, a civilian impact trigger. The Council should establish an automatic procedural response. Any verified incident exceeding a defined civilian casualty threshold compels a council session within 72 hours with a public compliance assessment from the Secretariat, not to re-debate the war, but to ensure that mass casualty Incidents do not disappear quietly or go into procedure. Visibility itself is a form of accountability. Third, a rolling restraint framework. Comprehensive ceasefire negotiations remain blocked. Liberia does not pretend otherwise. But we propose an incremental alternative that both parties commit to renewable 72-hour suspension of strikes on protected systems verified by the UN, with each successful circle extended. This is not a peace agreement. It is a discipline, one that builds the habit of restraint before the conditions for peace exist. Progress does not always arrive whole. Mr. President, Liberia is a small state. We have no leverage to compel. But we have sat in this chamber and received peacekeeping forces when our own institutions failed us. And we know what it means when the international system chooses engagement over abandonment. We are asking this Council to make the same choice now—not to end this war by declaration, but to constrain how it is fought, step by step, through mechanisms that are practical, reciprocal, and available today. That is what this moment requires, and Liberia will keep saying so until it is heard. I thank you.

Thank you, Mr. President.


China · President [54:25]:

I thank the representative of Liberia for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Somalia.


Somalia [54:33]:

Thank you, Mr. President. We thank the Secretary-General for his remarks. We also thank ASG Khalil Khayari for his comprehensive briefing. As we gather today here, our delegation remains deeply concerned by the ongoing hostilities and the continued deterioration of both humanitarian and security conditions in Ukraine. Recent developments demonstrate that the longer this conflict continues, the longer the human suffering is prolonged and the prospect for a sustainable peace is diminished. We are troubled by the continued— continuous escalation of military actions affecting civilian and critical infrastructure. The protection of civilian and civilian infrastructure, including the preservation of schools, Healthcare, hospitals, and homes are non-negotiable obligations enshrined in international humanitarian law. In this regard, we call on all parties to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian law. Mr. President, we reiterate that all parties must prioritize de-escalation, exercise utmost restraint, and commit to immediate and comprehensive ceasefire. My delegation remains convinced that there is no military solution to this protracted conflict. Dialogue and diplomacy remain the only viable means to bring an end to this crisis. While we note that diplomatic tracks have reached an impasse in recent weeks, we continue to encourage international diplomatic initiatives, particularly the tripartite talks among the United States, Ukraine, and the Russian Federation. A durable and just resolution must address the underlying root causes of this conflict and be fully consistent with the purpose and principles of the United Nations Charter. Lasting peace will require compromise, confidence-building measures, and shared vision of common and sustainable security. In closing, Mr. President, my delegation reaffirms its unwavering support for all diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a resolution that restores peace, security, and stability. The people of Ukraine, Somalia and all those affected by this conflict deserve a future defined by peace, prosperity, and dignity. I thank you.


China · President [56:44]:

I thank the representative of Somalia for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Pakistan.


Pakistan [56:51]:

Thank you, President. I would like to thank Secretary-General Guterres for his remarks. We, in fact, fully endorse his call for bringing this tragic conflict to an end and for a comprehensive peace through diplomacy and in line with the UN Charter. We also take note of the briefing by ESG Khalid Qari. President, the Council is meeting for the third time in a little more than a week to deliberate on the Ukraine conflict. Now well into its fifth year, this conflict continues to rage, leaving trail of widespread destruction and upending lives and livelihoods of millions of people. The sharp escalation in fighting witnessed recently and the resultant far-reaching humanitarian impact is alarming and deeply troubling. My delegation wishes to reiterate Pakistan's clear, consistent, and principled position on matters related to international law, including international humanitarian law, and the obligations of the concerned parties. The principles of IHL are fundamental and must be fully and consistently adhered to by all parties without exception. And let me also say that the protection of diplomatic compounds is guaranteed under international customary and treaty law, and this obligation must be scrupulously followed by all parties. President, this recent escalation demonstrates yet again the imperative of a pacific settlement of this conflict. A meaningful and earnest commitment to dialogue and diplomacy is the only way to bring lasting peace and help restore much-needed stability in this region. We reiterate that military means cannot bring lasting peace and will only prolong and further compound the agony of those affected by this conflict. And we reiterate the fundamental need for the parties to agree to an immediate and complete cessation of hostilities and provide necessary space for diplomacy to work and to bring this conflict to an early end. Pakistan has all along favored and advocated the path of dialogue and diplomacy for peaceful settlement of this conflict. This would require, in our view, commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and a focus on finding a mutually acceptable solution corresponding to the legitimate security interests of all sides and the relevant multilateral agreements. In this context, we reiterate our hope that the parties would resume participation in the U.S.-facilitated dialogue process at the earliest. President Pakistan voted in favor of Resolution 2774 in February last year. Pakistan will continue to support all efforts aimed at achieving a comprehensive, durable, and peaceful resolution of this conflict. This, we believe, must be achieved without further delay, for every passing day with continuation of hostilities only deepens the misery of the people in the region and distances the parties further from the much-needed peace. I thank you.


China · President [1:00:52]:

I thank the representative of Pakistan for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.


Democratic Republic of the Congo [1:01:00]:

Thank you, Mr. President. The Democratic Republic of the Congo would like to thank you for convening this meeting devoted to the maintenance of the peace and security of Ukraine. The Democratic Republic of the Congo would like to thank the Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. Antonio Guterres, and the Assistant Secretary-General, Mr. Khaled Kihari, for their briefings on the developments in the situation in Ukraine. Which once again reminds us of the severity of the security and humanitarian situation, as well as the urgent need for a responsible mobilization on the part of this Council for the sake of the protection of civilians, for de-escalation, and for the pursuit of a just, lasting, and credible peace. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has taken note of the reports of attacks that hit several Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv,— on the night from the 23rd to the 24th of May, and which caused significant damage as well as the loss of human life. We express our profound concern over the continuation of a military escalation which now seems to fall within a logic of permanent confrontation, and the civilian population remains the primary victim of that. The fact that the Council is once again seized of the situation in Ukraine following its recent meeting on the 22nd of May is not only the evidence of the intensification of hostilities, but also the consequence of the growing stalemate in this conflict. The consequences of that conflict each day become more diffuse, more uncontrollable, and more devastating, and this situation is unacceptable. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is deeply concerned by this spiral, this continued spiral of strikes, of retaliation and counter-retaliation, which seems to show the prevalence of a veritable logic of war that is detrimental to any prospect for a political settlement. And this logic, if it becomes entrenched, is unfortunately going to set back the prospects for lasting peace. Mr. President, my delegation feels that the Security Council cannot simply take note of the continued deterioration of the situation without fully taking stock of its responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. Each new escalation, each new wave of strikes, and each new attack on civilians is a sharp reminder of the urgent need for for a collective leap of action for de-escalation and dialogue. The Democratic Republic of the Congo firmly recalls that the protection of civilians constitutes a fundamental and sacrosanct obligation under international humanitarian law, which cannot be contextualized by military imperatives. No circumstance should lead to children, schools, civilian infrastructure, or humanitarian personnel being exposed to attacks. That is why my delegation also insists upon the need to ensure rapid, safe, sustainable, and unhindered humanitarian access to the affected populations. Humanitarian personnel, healthcare workers, first responders, and emergency infrastructure must continue to benefit from effective protection. The Democratic Republic of the Congo reaffirms firmly that there can be no sustainable, lasting solution to this crisis through military means alone. Only sincere dialogue, restraint, de-escalation, and determined commitment to diplomacy can open the door to a credible and lasting peace. In this regard, my delegation calls upon all of the parties to work actively to ease tensions and to support the diplomatic and mediation initiatives that are underway, notably those undertaken by the United States of America and by the European Union. To conclude, Mr. President, the history of international relations teaches us that the most painful conflicts cannot find a lasting solution through escalation nor through the amassing of suffering, but rather through the parties' ability to recreate basic conditions for confidence that can allow for a resumption of dialogue. As long as these hostilities continue, the prospects for a negotiated settlement remain fragile and the suffering of the population will continue to worsen. Reaffirming its commitment to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, the Democratic Republic of the Congo calls upon all parties to show restraint, to strictly comply with their international obligations, and to refrain from any action which could further exacerbate the situation on the ground. Thank you.


China · President [1:06:22]:

I thank the representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the Russian Federation.


Russian Federation · Mr. Nebenzya [1:06:30]:

Mr.

President, we thank the countries that have convened this meeting for giving us yet another opportunity to again draw the attention of the international community to what happened on the 22nd of May. Your goal, of course, was not to do this, but on the contrary, it was to divert attention from the tragedy in Starobelsk, Starobilsk. And at the meeting last Friday, a number of members of Security Council allowed themselves to shamelessly refer to lack of information. On the night of May 22nd, the Kyiv regime again showed its terrorist nature by inflicting a barbaric targeted strike on the Starobilsk Pedagogical College and Dormitory using 16 UAVs. This tragedy claimed the lives of 21 people, primarily young girls, and 44 people were injured. If someone in this hall still doubts or is not familiar with the consequences of the strike on Starobilsk, well, we recommend that you watch the video that we showed during the press conference on the 26th of May. Uh, the— those, uh, 50 The journalists from 19 countries who arrived at the scene of the tragedy at the invitation of the Russian side were personally convinced of the reliability of the information. No matter how hard Kiev tries to justify itself, no matter how hard the mainstream Western media try to turn a blind eye to what happened, what did happen on the night of May 22nd is a cynical act of terror. The cruelty with which the Kiev regime dealt with children can only be compared with the actions of the Nazis and their accomplices during World War II, when they ruthlessly ruthlessly exterminated civilian populations. What is especially striking is the hypocrisy and cynical reactions of delegations from European countries, who usually instantly make accusations against Russia when it is politically expedient for them, but in this case, they preferred not to basically notice the tragedy and place the responsibility on Moscow. We were not surprised by it then, and we are not surprised now. What kind of human compassion on their part can we talk about when the blood of the children of Starobelsk is on, is on their hands? After all, their countries have been supplying the Zelensky terrorist regime with money, intelligence, weapons, ammunition, been doing this for many years and inspiring him to commit new crimes against civilians and then cover him up, presenting him as a victim. The UN Secretariat, which acts so promptly in some cases, unfortunately here has once again limited itself to most general rhetoric and wording and avoided a direct assessment of Kyiv's actions. They say that there was no access to the scene of the tragedy and there was no way to verify the information. We have repeatedly stated that the UN representatives can visit the Donetsk People's Republic, Lugansk People's Republic, Zaporozhye, and Kherson regions through the territory of Russia, but the UN decided not to use this opportunity. Why is the UN Secretariat so easy to find words when it is necessary to support the Western version of events and finds it so difficult to find expressions when it is necessary to call the Ukrainian attack on children a crime. Why do some victims deserve immediate compassion and others do not? Why does the death of minors in one place become a reason for loud statements and condemnations, whereas the death of children in Starobelsk is met with silence? Here you have another vivid manifestation of the double standards and hypocrisy of the West. However, this act of terror could not and did not go unpunished. Mr. President, on May 24th, the Russian Armed Forces launched a massive attack on military command and control facilities, air bases, and enterprises of the military-industrial complex of Ukraine using Reshnik, Iskander, Kinzhal, and Zircon missiles air, sea, and ground-based cruise missiles, as well as UAVs. Among the targets hit in Kyiv and the Kyiv region were facilities of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex, military infrastructure, command posts of the Main Command of the Ground Forces of Ukraine, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, and other command posts of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Strikes on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine were not planned and they were not carried out. This retaliatory strike on the Ukrainian capital is a direct consequence of deliberate steps to fuel the conflict by Zelensky and his backers. Terror against peaceful Russians, which Kyiv, with the approving silence of its accomplices in the West, has long turned into an instrument of war— we will not leave an answer to in the future. All the more so since the cynical terrorist act in Starobelsk is far from being an isolated case. Last week alone, as a result of attacks by militants of the Kiev regime, 51 civilians were killed and another 199, including 20 children, were injured. And these are not just dry statistics, these are human lives— women, children, and the elderly. During the same period, um, Over civilian targets, including residential areas, schools, and hospitals on the territory of Russia received over 4,300 rounds of munitions, including Moscow and, and surroundings. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that in the current conditions, the Russian Armed Forces continue to consistently deliver systematic strikes against the enterprises of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex in Kyiv, including the locations for the design, production, programming, and preparation for the use of drones used by the Kyiv regime with the assistance of NATO specialists who are responsible for the supply of components and for the provision of intelligence and target acquisition. Strikes will be carried out both at decision-making centers and command posts. And since the above facilities are dispersed throughout Kyiv, We warned foreign citizens, including the staff of diplomatic missions and offices of international organizations, about the need to leave the city as soon as possible, and residents of the Ukrainian capital not to approach the military and administrative infrastructure of the Zelensky regime. Let us repeat what we have said many times before: our armed forces do not strike strike civilians and civilian infrastructure. We strike exclusively at facilities related to military administration, weapons production, deployment of equipment, logistics, energy supply of the military machine, and infrastructure used in the interests of the Ukrainian armed formations. Mr. President, the events of the past week have shown very eloquently that neither the head of the Kyiv regime nor his Sponsors are ready for a substantive dialogue on the prospects for a peaceful settlement with our country. They're not striving for that. On the contrary, they're doing everything to escalate the confrontation. Routine appeals for an unconditional truce are only a cover for Kyiv to continue its terror. The so-called leaders of Europe are thus only encouraging Zelensky's already reckless and suicidal attitude. The tenor of their comments leaves no doubt that they have finally and irrevocably written Ukraine off, again trying to gain time for their insane preparation for war with Russia, as they say. They are ready to continue squeezing the maximum out of the long-suffering country, using it to fight Russia down to the last Ukrainian. At the same time, the cynical beacons of democracy, in order not to be responsible for the evil and chaos they continue to so, have begun to demonize and denigrate Russia. The Western propaganda machine is working round the clock to shift responsibility for the consequences of the actions of civilized states in Ukraine, so-called civilized states in Ukraine, to our country. Let me say it now, they will not get away with this. For their predatory actions towards both Russia and Ukraine, They will certainly bear responsibility. It is obvious that without military pressure, no calls for realistic diplomacy will work. Our armed forces will continue to fulfill the goals of the special military operation to denazify and demilitarize Ukraine until the security threats emanating from its territory are completely eliminated. I thank you.


China [1:15:40]:

I thank the representative of the Russian Federation for the statement. I shall now make a statement in my capacity as a representative of China. I thank Secretary-General Guterres and Assistant Secretary-General Kiari for their briefings. China takes note of the reports of attacks on Kyiv and expresses its deep concern over the civilian casualties resulting from these attacks. Under no circumstances should civilians be targeted, and their safety must be protected at all times. China condemns any attacks against innocent civilians. As the Ukraine crisis drags on, the situation on the ground shows no signs of easing. On the contrary, the conflict has intensified in recent days and resulted in mounting civilian casualties, which is truly harrowing. In a span of 10 days, The Council has convened 3 meetings on the situation in Ukraine. Time and again, we have witnessed the spread of the conflict and the brutality of war. This situation must not be allowed to continue. China calls upon the parties concerned to exercise the utmost calm and restraint, prioritize peace and the well-being of their peoples, cease hostilities, strictly observe international humanitarian law, and halt attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in order to facilitate de-escalation at the soonest. To defuse crises, achieve peace, and protect civilians, the most fundamental approach is to resolve conflicts through dialogue and negotiation. Although the path to peace may be arduous, dialogue is always preferable to confrontation, and peace talks are always more desirable than war. China supports all efforts aimed at achieving peace. We hope that the parties concerned will resume engagement and negotiations as soon as possible, demonstrate political will toward each other, take seriously and address each other's legitimate security concerns, and eliminate the root causes of the crisis in full and complete compliance with the principles of the UN Charter, with a view to reaching a comprehensive, lasting, and binding peace agreement. On the Ukraine question, China has consistently maintained that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be adhered to, the legitimate security concerns of all countries should be taken seriously, and all efforts conducive to a peaceful resolution should be supported. China will remain guided by the four "shoulds" proposed by President Xi Jinping and work relentlessly with the international community to usher in the dawn of peace and achieve a speedy political settlement of the crisis. Thank you. I resume my function as President of the Council. I now give the floor to the Representative of Ukraine.


Ukraine [1:18:42]:

Mr. President, distinguished members of the Security Council, I thank the Chinese Presidency for convening this meeting and express my gratitude to the delegations of Denmark, France, Greece, Latvia, and the United Kingdom for supporting Ukraine's request. I am especially grateful to the Secretary-General, António Guterres, for your presence today in this chamber It is a powerful signal that Russia's war of aggression will remain as a priority on the agenda of the UN and will not disappear until Ukraine has restored its territorial integrity. I am also thankful to the distinguished briefer, ASG Khaled Kari, for clearly demonstrating once again to this Council— a new shocking level of Russia's aggression against Ukraine by committing outrageous war crimes and crimes against humanity against the civilian population. These testimonies and these horrific facts that we just heard will form part of the evidence that will underpin future trials against Russian war criminals and help ensure accountability for their every atrocities they committed in Ukraine. Mr. President, before proceeding with my statement, I feel compelled to set the record straight regarding yet another propaganda narrative promoted by the Russian representative today and repeatedly over the last few days concerning the so-called incident in Starobilsk, a fake story that is already collapsing under the weight of its own contradictions. At last Friday's emergency meeting, Mr. Nebenzya told this Council of, and I quote, "86 students aged 14 to 18" and repeatedly referred to "sleeping children," "minors," and the deliberate killing of minors. I was listening very attentively to his passionate speech. I always listen to you. Mr. Nebenzya. Unlike you, I don't scroll my smartphone to demonstrate disrespect. The Russian representative used the word children 15 times when speaking about Sarobinsk last time. Today, Mr. Nebenzya mentioned poor children 5 times at least. He even invited last time 2 UN bodies specifically mandated to protect Children's Rights, UNICEF, and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. Yet the very next day, the Russian Federation's own Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a list identifying the 21 alleged victims by name and date of birth—a list, it must be stressed, that has not been independently verified. But even according to that list that we see, every single individual named was an adult. Remarkably, not a single one was a child. In other words, the same institution that sends the Russian representative to sit in this chamber has, through its own documentation, which is unverified— I have to underline it once again— refuted his central claim. This tells us everything we need to know about the credibility of Starobilsk fake legend. I also have to say that it exposes Moscow's willingness to exploit children's rights and misuse UN institutions in the service of its propaganda. What is perhaps even more striking is that Russia expects the world to take all its accusations on faith while its own version of events starts falling apart the very next day as it was presented. Here is another example. On 22nd of May, Mr. Nebenzya told this council that the Ukrainian army, and I quote, used 4 fixed-wing drones. But just 4 days later, at the press conference on the 26th of May, the same representative of Russia told reporters that 16 UAVs targeted the same location in 3 successive waves. End of quote. So we see that imaginary number of alleged drones suddenly quadrupled in 4 days. I could continue deconstructing and dismantling the endless stream of Russia's lies, but I value precious time of this Council far too much to devote any more of it to this exercise. Mr. President, the Starobilsk narrative is a textbook example of cynical Russia's propaganda, a construct so evidently fabricated that it is effectively stitched together with white threads of lies and drawn out of thin air. We are seeing yet another attempt by the Russian Federation and by the broader machinery of Mr. Putin's system of disinformation to cynically invent and construct a new victimhood narrative. Through a mixture of falsehoods, manipulations, and deliberate distortions, Russia is trying to fabricate yet another myth of Starobilsk, portraying itself as an alleged victim of this war. But let me be absolutely clear: we cannot allow this to happen, because this is not about the victims of war. The sole responsibility for those victims of war lies with a single individual, Mr. Putin, and the military monster that he commands. What is being pursued instead is something far more dangerous: an attempt to manufacture Moscow's justification for an ongoing act of brutal aggression against Ukraine or for the so-called retaliation.. And we have seen this pattern before, like fabricated myths about the 2014 tragedy at the Trade Union House in Odessa, or cynical narratives about an alleged "People of Donbas" supposedly targeted by Ukrainian forces—both fake constructs that Moscow keeps recycling over and over again. All of this has been instrumentalized by cynical propaganda apparatus to justify Russia's war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the mass killings and indiscriminate strikes against civilian populations that we witnessed in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities last Sunday. It was Pentecost Sunday. To be frank, watching the sheer zeal, this almost theatrical determination with which the Russian representative at the UN beats his chest and bans every possible effort to manufacture the new Russian myth of alleged victimhood is deeply disturbing. I want to reiterate once and for all: the Armed Forces of Ukraine target only legitimate military objectives in full accordance with international humanitarian law. We never target civilians. Mr. President, let me now turn back to my statement the night from the May 23rd to May 24th in Kyiv, my native city, was hit without exaggeration with a strike which can be compared to a true Armageddon. It was the most devastating assault the Ukrainian capital has endured since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion. Waves of Russian deadly missiles and drones struck the city with a new appalling level— of brutality, leaving no doubt about Mr. Putin's true intention: not military necessity, but maximum terror inflicted on the metropolis and Ukraine's peaceful citizens. I am raising this issue with the members of this Council also with a deep personal pain. As you know, my own family lives in Kyiv. They too went through that hellish night of Russian barbarism unleashed by Mr. Putin. And his henchmen dressed in military uniform. Thanks God, my mother-in-law, my father-in-law, my 10-year-old niece, they survived this horror night. But survival is not something that we Ukrainians can take for granted. It is difficult to convey how absurd this reality sounds today in the 21st century, in the very heart of Europe, in one of the most beautiful European capitals with over 3 million inhabitants. Russians. On Whitsunday, Russian Armed Forces, as we just heard, carried out one of the largest and the most terrifying combined attacks on Ukraine civilians and civilian infrastructure using 54 cruise missiles, 32 ballistic missiles, including 2 Kinzhal air-launched missiles, as well as 3 Tsirkon hypersonic missiles. In addition, over over 600 Russian attack drones were employed against civilian population. Many of them were Shahed-type drones, the same Iranian-designed deadly weapons that have shown their destructive power also now in the Middle East and in the Gulf region, used by Iranian armed forces. Over 100 people were injured across Ukraine, and at least 4 of them were killed. Severe damage, as we also heard, has been reported across all districts of Kyiv, affecting a wide range of civilian objects. Exactly speaking, 352 residential buildings were among the hardest hit, including high-rise apartment blocks, private houses, many of which sustained fires, structural damage, or partial destruction. A whole section of a residential building on Dekhtaryivska Street was demolished from the 1st to the 5th floor. The family of our friends lived in that building. Thankfully, they survived the strike but lost their apartment and all their possessions. The Chernobyl Museum— and we heard this already— was completely destroyed by a direct missile strike. It had been reopened just less than a month earlier following long reconstruction, marking the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster. The Russian barbaric barrage also struck a number of Ukrainian cultural institutions, including the National Art Museum of Ukraine— it is our Louvre or our Metropolitan Museum— the National Philharmonic Hall, the National Music Academy, the Kyiv Municipal Academy Opera and Ballet Theatre, the Yaroslav the Wise National Library, the International Center for Culture and Arts, the Ukrainian House Center, and many others. Historic architectural landmarks of our capital, including the Kontraks House in Podil district, where I live, and the Central Postal Station building, were also damaged. 19 schools and educational institutions in Kyiv were severely affected by Russian airstrikes, including the historic campus of Kyiv Mohyla Academy. —one of the oldest national universities—alongside a public food market, shopping malls, office centers, and warehouses. The blast struck also the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a unique architectural masterpiece erected in 1939 that sustained damage for the first time since the Second World War. The Cherkasy, Kharkiv, Kropotnitsky, Odessa, Poltava, Sumy, and Zhytomyr regions were also targeted by Russia in that fateful night of May 24. Mr. President, colleagues, allow me to reiterate once again that, despite Russia's constantly repeated claims that it does not target Ukraine's civilian population, even the main Kremlin propagandist Vladimir Solovyov a few days ago openly admitted that this is a pure lie. In one of the recent broadcasts, this Kremlin mouthpiece acknowledged that over the past weekend, Russia carried out indiscriminate strikes against Kyiv and that its military command makes no distinction between military and civilian targets because, as he literally put it, Russian bombs and missiles have no eyes. For years, Mr. Putin has been shamelessly lying that Russian troops only strike military objectives. Yet now even its own official propaganda machinery finally concedes that Russia does kill indiscriminately. And now we hear something even more revealing. These threats are no longer voiced only by Russia's military command. They are now being openly articulated by the Russian Foreign Ministry itself. They turn into the most aggressive and brazen megaphone of war. In human history, even trespassing the Third Reich. We are told explicitly that Russia only strikes what it calls, and I quote, decision-making centers and command posts. So let us throw a closer look at the results of the latest massive missile attack on Kyiv. One of the sites completely destroyed was the famous Lukyanivka fruit and vegetable market, an ordinary marketplace near the neighborhood where my family used to live for years. So is Mr. Putin waging a war against Ukrainian tomatoes? Or maybe our cucumbers and parsley? Mr. President, now let us throw a closer look at the tremendous cost of this latest brutal missile and drone attack on Kyiv. Based on open-source calculations, the price that Mr. Putin has paid for this last barbaric attack is about $360 million. Just imagine the scale of this absurdity. The figure reflects only the value of weapons used within a 7-hour strike in that night. When translated into real-life terms inside the Russian Federation, the scale becomes even more astonishing. According to official Russian construction cost benchmarks,— this sum could finance approximately 35 modern schools or 12 fully equipped modern hospitals. In other words, the value destroyed by Russia in just one single night, attacking the very first McDonald's café in Kyiv— by the way, it was already reopened— could have been converted into many decades of public investment in social infrastructure, dozens of schools, educating a few generations of children, and hospitals providing essential medical care. $360 million is comparable to the entire annual budgets of such medium-sized Russian cities as Kursk, Bryansk, or Belgorod. Mr. President, at our previous meeting, I reminded Council members that around 35 million people in Russia still do not have access to proper sanitation and sewerage services. A striking reality for a country that claims great power status. Had the Kremlin chosen to invest $360 million US it wasted in this one single night on fruit markets in Kyiv, in its own people in Russia, that amount would have been sufficient to build a state-of-the-art sewerage and wastewater treatment system for a city of 300,000 residents. Moreover, in human terms, with an average Russian pension of roughly $260 per month, this amount would cover the annual pensions of 110,000 pensioners. But instead, Mr. Putin decides to invest $360 million into missiles that launched in one night against the European capital, destroying a vegetable market, a coffee shop, which as we just heard was also reopened next morning, and many other command centres in Kyiv. Now we also know that Russia has deployed a medium-range ballistic missile known as Oreshnik, which is capable of carrying nuclear warheads. It was used primarily as an instrument of— intimidation against the international community. So let me also highlight the sheer absurdity of this action. The cost of a single Oreshnik missile is around $50 million. Russia launched at least two of them. One reportedly lost its course and fell on the temporarily occupied territory in the Donetsk region. The other reached the area near Bilatserkhove, just outside Kyiv, where it detonated in the air. And if one assumes that the intended target was the so-called decision-making center, then the result of this precision strike, Mr. Nebenzya, was the destruction of a few old garages in a garage co-op, as well as an old fence on the outskirts of Bilohorivka. This is yet another clear illustration of how Mr. Putin is recklessly squandering billions of dollars on weapons that achieve no military effect, while these enormous resources could have been and should have been used for the benefit of his own population. But who cares about ordinary people in Russia? Mr. President, we are closely monitoring Russia's activities aimed at further involving Belarus in aggression against Ukraine. This is another disturbing issue and another new threat it is to that that I would like to turn the attention of this Council. The Lukashanka regime has effectively surrendered its sovereignty, allowing its territory, military infrastructure, and airspace to be used by Moscow. Under growing Kremlin pressure, Belarus is being pushed toward deeper involvement in the war, including through mobilization measures, deployment of advanced missile systems, and nuclear-related exercises.— thereby posing a new, unprecedented threat not just to Ukraine, but to European security. Ukraine hopes that Belarus will not start an invasion from its soil. But there should be no doubt that Ukraine will defend itself in strict accordance with Article 51 of the Charter. Any attack from the north will trigger an immediate and decisive response— and the regime in Minsk will face devastating consequences. We therefore urge the Security Council to increase pressure on both Moscow and Minsk to prevent this new escalation of war. Mr. President, to conclude, first, Ukraine calls again on our European and our American partners to multiply their air defence assistance at least tenfold. The alarming new scale of Russia's Aerial terror requires a response of an entirely different magnitude. We need to better protect the skies over our cities. We need to better protect and save civilian lives. Second, we once again urge all UN member states to take robust unilateral measures to deprive Russia's war machine of its financial lifeline. Every loophole that remains open Every sanction left unenforced and every source of revenue left untouched enables the Kremlin to prolong its war of aggression. Third, I would like to appeal to the members of this Council, an appeal that I have repeated at every single meeting for the past year. It is time for the Security Council to pass a resolution demanding an immediate unconditional ceasefire, as well as the release of all prisoners of war and all unlawfully detained civilians under an all-for-all exchange formula. And last but not least, it is time to find an elegant but effective way to deprive Russia of its permanent seat of the Council, which it obtained— or better to say, hijacked— under very dubious legal grounds. Mr. President, Russia is bending over backwards to portray itself as the victim of a war that it alone chose to start. The Kremlin is desperately trying to shift attention away from its aggression and to present the consequences of its own criminal actions as somebody else's responsibility, like in Starobilsk. But the reason for Moscow's panic is clear. Ukraine's deep strikes against legitimate military targets are not only changing the dynamics on the battlefield, they are inevitably eroding Russia's economic ability to sustain its criminal war machine. So I would like to give an advice to Mr. Nebenzya. Traditionally, in Russian, "Nie bombite i nie bombimo budite iz narodno-poslanye kibalatiano." Don't bomb and you will not be bombed in return. I thank you.


China · President [1:40:09]:

I thank the representative of Ukraine for the statement. The representative of the Russian Federation has asked for the floor to make a further statement. I give them— I now give them the floor.


Russian Federation · Mr. Nebenzya [1:40:24]:

Mr. President, I listen very carefully, always, to the permanent representative of Ukraine, even when I'm using my smartphone, which I'm not using for computer games but for business purposes. I don't think he can accuse me otherwise. I'm always present when he is taking the floor. I can't say that it gives me great pleasure to listen to him. Nonetheless, I never leave the chamber until I've heard him. But today we're talking about— not about sarcasm and irony, which was in his speech, but we're talking about something else. This was a pathetic attempt to justify what happened in the early hours of the 22nd of May in Starobilysk. Please note that the permanent representative did not deny the fact that people died there, but his argument was that it was not children, it was adults. So that's a very different thing. And his words about the fabricated narrative of burning 45 people in Odessa in May of 2014 is beyond the pale. Well, the Permanent Representative does like Russian adages, and let me also use one. And this is very similar to the Russian saying according to which a guilty person shows himself. No juggling with the numbers could take away from this impression that we got. We are not in direct communication with the permanent representative, although I can send him a letter directly where I will list the facts describing what happened in Starobilsk and the testimony of those people who were eyewitnesses. But if he is not ready for such a letter, I will make sure that he receives such a letter through mechanisms we have in the Security Council and the General Assembly. Please, uh, be ready for a response from us. Thank you.


China · President [1:42:30]:

I thank the representative of the Russian Federation for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Poland.


Poland [1:42:42]:

Thank you, Mr. President. We thank China for convening this urgent Security Council meeting in response to the latest escalatory chapter in Russia's aggression against Ukraine. We also thank Secretary General for his presence in this briefing and of course, the ADG Chiari for his briefing. Mr. President, unable to achieve decisive battlefield results after more than 4 years of the war, Russian leadership has once again resorted to deliberate intimidation of civilians, revealing not strength but growing desperation. Poland strongly condemns the barbaric Russian attacks on Kyiv on May 24th. Targeting civilian areas and infrastructure is unacceptable. Russia's latest mass attack, including— was just been confirmed today by the Russian delegation— including the use of the Oreshchyn nuclear-capable ballistic missile against homes, schools, museums, and cultural institutions constitutes an act of state terrorism, plain and simple. None of these targets were either legitimate or incidental. This is pure terror. And if Russia, as it claims, are targeting military objects, but in fact hitting schools, that may be even more disturbing. The severe damage inflicted on more than 10 cultural, educational, and religious institutions represents not only the physical destruction, but the direct assault on the Ukrainians' heritage and identity. It is a clear violation of the commitments undertaken by Russia under the UNESCO Constitution, and was rightly condemned by the UNESCO statement. We need principled international response, one that ensures full accountability in accordance with international law. Mr. President, we continue to hear from Russia, including in this Council, that it is conducting the so-called special military operation. It is clear that it is not the case. What Russia has been carrying out is an illegal war of aggression.. And it's not limiting itself to military targets, instead of attacking indiscriminately. Moreover, Russia has openly announced sustained and systematic attacks against Kyiv, while at the same time calling on foreign nationals, including diplomatic personnel, to leave the city immediately. Such threats are unacceptable, and specifically as they are repeated in this very Council today. Threatening embassies and diplomats constitutes a flagrant violation of one of the most fundamental international treaties, the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The international community cannot ignore this conduct. Russia's unlawful actions further undermine its credibility as a permanent member of this Council. It continued a blatant disregard for the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, and it's shameful. Regrettably, we see no indication that Russia is prepared to engage in a genuine peace process. Instead, Attacks aimed at spreading fear and despair are intensifying. Mr. President, if we allow terror to pass without consequence, we erode the very foundations of this Council and of the United Nations. Accountability is not an optional— it's essential. We call on Russia to immediately cease its unjustified and unlawful aggression and to comply fully with its international obligations. Thank you.


China · President [1:45:54]:

Thank you. I thank the representative of Poland for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Romania.


Romania [1:46:01]:

Thank you very much, Mr. President. Romania aligns with the statement of the European Union. I would like to thank the Secretary General for this, for his clear message of, in favor of peace. Mr. President, we strongly condemn Russia's latest appalling attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. Just last week, the majority of those Speaking in the Council, insisted once again for a ceasefire and a just and lasting peace. The combined missiles and drones attack on the night of 23rd-24th of May was one of the largest and most devastating recorded to date against Ukraine and its capital city Kyiv. The reported use of an Oreshnik intermediate-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile in Russia's latest attacks for the third time since the start of the invasion, as we heard from is a dangerous escalation and a matter of concern for international security and stability. As heard also from the briefers today, these indiscriminate attacks have again killed and injured innocent people. Residential areas were among the hardest hit. We reiterate our heartfelt solidarity with Ukraine and its people in these difficult moments. The deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure once again is unacceptable. And must stop immediately. President, the threats issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry to foreign embassies and foreign diplomats to leave Kyiv represent a serious and irresponsible escalation, violating international law. We will not be intimidated and we will maintain our diplomatic presence in Ukraine and Kyiv. The real intent behind such escalations and threats is to scare and to coerce. This reflects an incremental pattern of deliberate intimidation, accompanied by misleading narratives blaming European countries. It also includes unacceptable threats of the use of force against sovereign states, as we heard last week in this Council, regarding— involving a member of this Council, continued drone intrusions in the sovereign airspace of neighbors of Ukraine, and reckless attacks in the close proximity of Ukraine's border with these states, including my own country, Romania. We have registered already too many instances of irresponsible nuclear cyber-rattling since the start of its invasion, and we reject such threats. The status of permanent member of the Security Council and of a nuclear weapons state requires the highest level of responsibility. We will stand with Ukraine and its people for as long as it is needed, in their legitimate and resilient self-defense against the aggressor, and in ensuring justice through relevant accountability mechanisms. President, our ultimate goal remains upholding the principles enshrined in the UN Charter. The open debate this week reinforced this loud and clear. We reiterate our support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. The aggression against Ukraine must cease. Russia must agree to an immediate, full, and unconditional ceasefire and to meaningfully engage in negotiations towards a just and lasting peace. And I would like to support the call of the Ukrainian president— the Ukrainian ambassador on the resolution of the Security Council to this effect. Thank you very much.


China · President [1:49:08]:

I thank the representative of Romania for the statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Finland.


Finland · Nordic Group [1:49:16]:

Thank you, Mr. President. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Nordic countries: Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and my own country, Finland. Civilians and civilian infrastructure have been repeatedly hit by Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine for more than 4 years already. Last Saturday, civilians in Ukraine were looking forward to a night of rest and recuperation. Instead, they were driven from their beds and their homes by hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles launched in a massive aerial attack by the Russian Federation. In Kyiv, it was one of the most devastating attacks during the Russian war of aggression. In addition to numerous civilian casualties, many, many residential buildings and schools, opera house, museum, and other institutions were hit. The Nordic countries strongly condemn Russia's escalating attacks against civilians and civilian objects, including civilian infra. They must cease immediately. The latest escalation comes amid an already rising number of civilian casualties. In April alone, at least 238 civilians were killed and 1,404 injured in Ukraine. The military escalation is coupled with escalating rhetoric by Russia, openly threatening not only civilians but also diplomats and staff of international organizations. In Kyiv. Even before these threats, there have been several attacks against humanitarian actors in Ukraine, most recently against WFP's warehouse in Dnipro. The Russian airstrikes are making the delivery of humanitarian assistance increasingly difficult, if not impossible in some areas. Russia has already hit diplomatic premises as well. Moreover, Russian Federation appears to have used an Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile in its attack last weekend. This missile is specifically designed to carry nuclear warheads. The repeated use of nuclear-capable missiles is yet another manifestation of the unacceptable military escalation and the policy of intimidation, both of which— the Nordic countries firmly condemn. Mr. President, the scale and scope of Russia's attacks against civilians throughout the war leave no room for describing such attacks as anything other than blatant, calculated violations of international humanitarian law. It is time to put an end to the senseless destruction and suffering in Ukraine. The Nordic countries repeat our call for a full unconditional ceasefire, which would allow space for meaningful talks towards peace. The Nordic countries remain steadfast in our support to Ukraine and to a just and lasting peace based on international law, including the United Nations Charter. I thank you.

Thank you.


China · President [1:52:31]:

I thank the representative of Finland for the statement. And now the floor to the representative of Lithuania.


Lithuania · Baltic States [1:52:37]:

President, I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Baltic States, and we also align with the statement of the European Union. In the early hours of 24 May, Kyiv endured one of the largest and most devastating combined aerial assaults of Russia's full-scale war. The attack reportedly involved more than 90 missiles, including hypersonic ballistic missiles, and over 60 600 drones. This attack has resulted in more than 100 civilian casualties. Residential buildings, schools, markets, cultural sites, and government facilities, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, were struck or damaged across all districts of the capital. The premises of the World Health Organization and the UN were among the buildings damaged in the attack. The hypocrisy of Russia in portraying its action is immeasurable. Just last Friday, Russia requested an urgent Security Council meeting to convey concerns regarding to what it described as an attack on civilians in an occupied territory of Ukraine. Throughout the week, Russia found it appropriate to bomb entire cities, while today Russia seeks to justify these acts from the seat of a permanent member of this Council. Moreover, Russia is accusing countries that support Ukraine in its right of self-defense. The Baltic States reject all false claims. We strongly condemn Russia's horrific attacks on Ukraine and call on Russia to immediately cease its aggression. There can be no false equivalence between the aggressor— and its victims. Russia alone is responsible for starting this war. We further highlight the efforts of the UN and international humanitarian agencies and workers in their commitment to assisting Ukrainian authorities and civilians facing this assault. Mr. President, attacking cities with nuclear-capable missiles and other explosive projectiles is a grave violation of international law and must not be treated as business as usual. Such cowardly attacks demand accountability. We invite all members of the international community to support the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine in line with the Council of Europe resolution on the special tribunal adopted on 15th of May. We will also continue to call for full accountability and implementation of the International Criminal Court arrest warrants issued against Russian political and military leadership, including Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, over allegations of involvement in the war crimes of child abduction during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As Russia continues to ignore the multiple calls for peace, including Resolution 2774 adopted by this Security Council, countless resolutions of the General Assembly, and the International Court of Justice decisions, it is time for Security Council to act. The Baltic States advocate for an immediate ceasefire to stop the violence, alleviate suffering, and to enable negotiations with the aim to— of achieving a just and lasting peace. We reiterate our determination to continue supporting Ukraine its right to self-defense, sovereignty, and territorial integrity in accordance with international law, including fundamental principles of the UN Charter. I thank you.


China · President [1:56:22]:

I thank the representative of Lithuania for the statement. I now give the floor to Her Excellency Ms. Heda Samson, Chargée d'Affaires ad interim of the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations.


EU · EU · Chargée d'Affaires ad interim · Heda Samson [1:56:34]:

Thank you, Mr.

President. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the EU and its member states. The candidate countries Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Georgia, as well as Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, align themselves with this statement. And I thank the Chinese presidency for convening this meeting, and I also thank you to the briefer ASG, for your update. We also appreciate the presence and remarks of the Secretary-General at the outset of this meeting. President, we convene today as a result of Russia's latest escalation in its unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine. Last Friday, we heard the Russian representative attempt to justify his government's actions with far-fetched stories of Ukrainian neo-Nazis. Its so-called special military operation was supposed to last for 3 days. 4 years and an estimated 1.3 million Russian casualties later, it has still not achieved its objectives. Russia does not allow the independent verification of the events in Starobilsk. It has consistently denied access to the temporarily occupied territories for all international monitoring mechanisms. There is no independent journalism in Russia and the occupied territories, let alone freedom of expression. The government shuts down much of the internet out of fear of its own citizens. If Russia wants us to believe its allegations, it needs to allow access to an independent investigation. Ukraine, by contrast, has systematically cooperated with international monitoring mechanisms, including the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry, as well as OSCE and Council of Europe institutions. Russia's atrocities in Ukraine are credibly documented, while Russia does everything in its power to cover up the reality in the territory it controls. Frustrated by the lack of progress on the battlefield, it is increasingly resorting to massive aerial attacks against Ukrainian cities and their population. On Saturday night alone, Russia's attack caused more than 100 civilian casualties, a number which would be much higher if it was not for the formidable efforts of Ukraine's air defence. Among the buildings damaged by Russia's horrific attacks were religious and educational facilities, a wastewater treatment plant, international media outlets, the National Art Museum, the Chernobyl Museum, the Kyiv School of Economics, and the Kyiv Opera. The use of nuclear-capable Oreshnik missiles constitutes another highly problematic escalation. Russia's repeated threats against foreign diplomatic representations in Kyiv are totally unacceptable. Russia's hypocritical claims that it targets military objectives ring hollow once again. In recent days, Russia has further debased itself, hitting warehouses of WFP and UNHCR in Dnipro, killing 2 humanitarian workers and destroying millions of euros' worth of humanitarian supplies for people on the frontline of its war of aggression. And let me therefore repeat: international humanitarian law must be respected. All attacks against humanitarian personnel and objects, civilians and civilian infrastructure must cease. President Zelenskyj, the EU supports a full, unconditional and immediate ceasefire, as well as a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, in line with international law, the UN Charter and relevant UN resolutions. We are actively supporting diplomatic efforts to this end, and we once again urge all members of this Council to work with us in pressuring Russia's leadership to accept a ceasefire and finally engage in good faith. We must work together to bring Russia to the negotiating table. We have heard from Ukraine that they are ready. I also reiterate the EU's urgent call on Russia and Belarus to immediately ensure the safe and unconditional return of all unlawfully deported and forcibly transferred Ukrainian children, in line with the December resolution of the UN General Assembly. And we furthermore call for the complete exchange of prisoners of war and the release of all unlawfully detained persons. President, the EU stands in solidarity with its member states, and we reject Russia's disinformation campaign, supported by Belarus, following airspace violations in the Nordic-Baltic region. We strongly condemn Russia's threats of the use of force directed at Latvia and other countries in the region. Russia's aggression will not stand. Its attempted illegal annexation will not stand. Its leaders will face accountability for their failing attempt to change borders by force. And Ukraine can continue to count on our support for its sovereignty, for its independence, and for its territorial integrity as it exercises its inherent right of self-defense in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter. And I thank you.


China · President [2:02:10]:

I thank Her Excellency Ms. Samson for the statement. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. The meeting is adjourned.