23.03.2026 United Nations Security Council Briefing on Ukraine
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Thank you, Mr President,
Let me also thank USG DiCarlo and USG Fletcher for their updates.
Deputy Secretary of State Landau, thank you for your presence here today, and for calling for concrete action for ending this war which have been going on for way too long.
More than four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion, the pictures our briefers have painted are painfully familiar.
Continued Russian attempts to deny Ukrainians the ability to freely choose their destiny. Relentless efforts to unlawfully seize Ukraine’s territory. Continued violations of international law, including the UN Charter.
Mr. President, this has become the daily reality for Ukrainians, who continue to bravely exercise their right to self-defence.
These briefings, these figures, represent families torn apart, communities devastated, generations traumatised. While it may be considered familiar, we cannot become numb to that fact.
It should continue to shock our collective conscience, and spur our collective action.
Mr President,
Against this backdrop, let me address three recent developments which are both highly illustrative and deeply alarming.
First,
As we have heard from both of our briefers today, Ukrainian civilians continue to suffer terribly under relentless Russian attacks.
Since March 1st Russia has launched over 5,000 drones, 4320 guided aerial bombs and 127 missiles targeting Ukraine. In the past 24 hours alone, 7 people were killed and 17 more injured following Russia’s recent attacks. In Kharkiv, more than fifty thousand children attend school underground every day, only to return home to be attacked in their beds at night. This is the harrowing reality of life under Russia’s blitz of bomb, drone and missile attacks on Ukraine’s cities.
Denmark strongly condemns these attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. We repeat our call for an immediate ceasefire. Ukraine offered a comprehensive and unconditional ceasefire more than a year ago. Russia’s continued refusal to engage shows that Ukraine is the only party seriously committed to peace.
In addition, these weapons bringing death and destruction to Ukraine do not stop at its borders. We are seeing their use far from the European continent, specifically in the Gulf. We commend Ukraine for providing hard-won expertise in countering such drone attacks to the countries affected.
Second, Mr President,
The UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine recently concluded that Russia committed crimes against humanity by illegally abducting thousands of children from the temporarily occupied territories. While some children have been returned, these successes only followed tireless Ukrainian and international pressure. As the Commission’s report makes clear, 80% of documented deported children remain separated from their loved ones after more than four years.
Denmark renews its demand for the immediate implementation of the December 2025 general assembly resolution “Return of Ukrainian Children”. Children must never be pawns in war. They must be identified, traced, and returned safely to their families. We have seen too few credible signs from the Russian Federation that it is working to implement this resolution. Those responsible for these horrendous crimes must be held fully accountable.
Third, Mr President
The Russian military has reportedly already sustained more than 1.2 million casualties in its senseless war. The Kremlin is now increasingly, and desperately, turning to other countries for manpower. Recent media reports detail over one thousand men from Africa who were tricked into fighting in Russia’s illegal war. This shows the global dangers of Putin’s war of choice. Denmark urges all governments to prevent their nationals from being exploited in this way.
Mr President, in closing,
Denmark appreciates the US led negotiations, and calls on Russia to engage seriously in talks to end this senseless war. It is time for President Putin to heed your call for action now Mr. Deputy Secretary.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has failed and it will fail. History has shown time and again that people cannot be controlled indefinitely at the barrel of a gun.
Ukraine’s many international supporters remain committed to its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally-recognised borders. As the overwhelming majority of UN members affirmed in the General Assembly in February, the only viable path to peace is clear. An immediate ceasefire. Serious peace talks. A just, comprehensive and lasting peace in line with the UN Charter.
Denmark will stand with Ukraine each step of the way to achieve this goal.
I Thank you.