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Checked Against Delivery

 

Thank you, Mr. President,

 

And we welcome the presence of Ukraine in today’s meeting.

 

Once again, the Russian Federation has called for a meeting – not to seek resolution, but to rewrite reality. Not to protect human lives, but to promote a false narrative. A narrative that accuses the West of prolonging the war in Ukraine by supplying arms to Kyiv for its self-defence against the Russian illegal armed aggression.

 

This is not diplomacy. It is a distraction. And it is yet again another cynical misuse of this Council’s time, resources and purpose.

 

Allow me, Mr. President, to make three key points.

 

First, as enshrined in the UN Charter, all states must respect the sovereign equality, territorial integrity and political independence of other states. It is indispensable to the cause of peace. It is the foundation for a world in which might does not make right. Yet, Russia has blatantly shattered this commitment with its illegal and brutal full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine.

 

Ukraine, under Article 51 of the UN Charter, has the inherent right to defend itself.. As part of the inherent right of self-defence, Ukraine also has the right to acquire weapons to defend itself.

 

Second, as widely reported, Russia is receiving substantial military assistance from Iran and the DPRK. While Russia is accusing others of prolonging the war, it deepens its reliance on regimes that show no respect for international norms. These are the choices of a country determined to sustain its aggression – regardless of the human cost.

 

In recent weeks, missiles and drones have continued to rain down on Ukrainian cities. The civilian casualties are the highest in 3 years. Last night was no exception. Kyiv was yet again the main target of a massive attack against densely populated areas. Numerous civilians are killed or injured. We deplore these heinous acts.

 

These are the arms transfers that must be stopped.

Third, this war did not begin with Western support to Ukraine. It began and continues with Russia’s invasion of a sovereign neighbour.

 

Pointing fingers at those who support the victim will not absolve the aggressor. It will not erase the single truth. Russia started this war, continues to escalate it, and shows no serious intention of bringing it to an end.