20.04.2026 Statement for Briefing on Ukraine

Checked Against Delivery 

Thank you, Madam. President,

And let me thank ASG Khiari and ASG Msuya for their briefings. I also welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to this meeting. At the outset, I want to express my deepest condolences to the families of the victims in the horrible shooting in Kyiv this past weekend.

Madam. President,

Our briefers sobering accounts remind us that while the eyes of the world may be on the Middle East, the longest war on European soil since World War II continues, away from the headlines, but no less devastating for Ukraine’s civilians.

This past month has marked some grim milestones: 1.500 days since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. And four years since unveiling the horrors of Russia’s brutal massacre in Bucha, which Denmark joined its EU partners in Bucha to commemorate on 31 March.

In the past weeks, we witnessed however a faint and sadly, fleeting, glimmer of hope. Following repeated calls by Ukraine, Russia announced a 32-hour Easter ceasefire. There was an exchange of prisoners, and the Ukrainian authorities declared that its forces would only respond if there were Russian strikes.

That hope, however, was instantly undermined as the Ukrainian authorities reported thousands of ceasefire violations throughout the 32-hour period. This tells us once again, that the international community should not be persuaded by empty declarations. We should only be persuaded by actions, and these actions tell a different and desperate story. One of deflection, rather than any meaningful step towards peace.

Madam President,

This cynicism by the Kremlin that we witnessed with the so-called Easter ceasefire is not new. For over a year, Kyiv has been offering an immediate, unconditional and comprehensive ceasefire. By now it is clear that this is the essential first step towards a just and lasting peace. Russia, on the other hand, has time and time again chosen escalation over good-faith engagement.

Over the last month, Russian strikes continued to rain down over Ukraine’s cities and along the frontline. The UN reports that civilian casualties increased by 49 percent from February to March alone.

The mass drone and missile attacks on last week at least 20 civilians and injured up to 100, revealing new and increasingly deadly Russian tactics. Drones with jet engines, and daytime attacks immediately following night-time attacks – making the strikes on heavily populated areas even more deadly.

Madam President,

Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians have been a feature of the full-scale invasion since the earliest days.

Justice will come for the victims across Ukraine – those who died in mass killings, those who endured torture, sexual violence, and forced deportations. And it will come for the survivors, who carry the physical and mental scars every day. We will not forget them and we will not abandon them.

There must be accountability for the international crimes committed by Russia in its brutal campaign to destroy an independent Ukraine. Denmark fully supports the efforts by the International Criminal Court and the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine as well as the work to create a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine and an International Claims Commission for Ukraine.

Madam President, in closing,

Around this table, we need to be clear in calling this a war of choice.

We call again on President Putin to finally end this war that he started. We do so, however, fully aware that so far, there are no signs of his willingness to choose peace.

We therefore also call on the international community to increase the pressure to finally end the killing and destruction. To support a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, in line with the UN Charter. Anything less would be a failure of our responsibility.

Thank you.