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12.01.2026 UN Security Council briefing on Ukraine

Who H.E Christina Markus Lassen, Permanent Representative of Denmark to the UN
Who H.E Christina Markus Lassen, Permanent Representative of Denmark to the UN
When 12.01.2026

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Thank you, Mr President,

 

I would like to thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo and OCHA Director Rajasingham for their briefings. We also welcome the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to this meeting.

 

Mr President,

 

While talks to bring peace to Ukraine continue, Russia has again chosen to intensify its brutal war, which brings us again to this Council. It is hard to know which element of Russia’s attacks on Ukraine last week on the night between 8-9 January is the most outrageous.

 

Firstly, in a single night, Russia fired hundreds of drones and missiles at Ukraine’s cities. Before dawn, at least 4 civilians in Kyiv were dead and 25 wounded. As we have heard from Under-Secretary General DiCarlo, paramedics attempting to pull survivors from the rubble were also attacked, a so-called double tap strike, with one of the rescuers also killed.

 

Denmark condemns these shocking Russian attacks. We recall that intentionally directing attacks against civilians is a serious violation of International Humanitarian Law and constitutes a war crime.

 

 

Secondly, Russian missiles struck key sites in Ukraine’s energy grid, leaving half of Kyiv’s homes without heating. This is part of the Kremlin’s ongoing efforts to use the harsh winter as a weapon of war, and deny Ukraine’s civilian population the warmth they need to survive in freezing temperatures.

 

We recall that attacking objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population is prohibited under International Humanitarian Law. Denmark calls on Russia to immediately comply with all of its IHL obligations.

 

 Thirdly, the airstrikes included the deployment of a hypersonic missile, which hit the outskirts of Lviv. Hitting a city only a short distance from NATO and EU territory is a reminder of Russia’s recklessness and causes for great concern. Russia’s use of this missile has again shown its willingness to escalate its war of aggression.

 

These are irresponsible actions, which we condemn. And which only reinforce our commitment to continue supporting Ukraine alongside our allies and partners.

 

Mr President,

 

The Russian aerial blitz on Ukraine  is the latest appalling episode in the Kremlin’s ongoing and systematic acts of aggression.

 

As we have repeatedly said, it is far beyond high time for Russia’s war in Ukraine to stop. Despite intense engagement between Kyiv and Washington, so far we have only seen bad-faith participation by Moscow in peace talks. Russia’s response to diplomacy has been to inflict more death and destruction to the people of Ukraine.

 

Mr President,

 

It is clear that the first step must be an immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire. This is exactly what Ukraine has been offering for almost a year now. In the absence of President Putin showing a sudden and dramatic change of heart, the international community must apply more pressure and do all it can to compel Russia to seriously walk the path to peace.

 

 

Let me be clear: it was Russia’s crime of aggression that was the only root cause of this horrendous war. We cannot turn our backs on the core principles and rules under the UN Charter. The prohibition on the use of force. The right to self-defence. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. The peaceful settlement of international disputes. These are key not only to ensuring Ukraine’s long-term security but for all UN member states.

 

I thank you.