Thank you, Madam Chair. Next week marks the 1000th day since Russia launched its unprovoked and illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine – a grim milestone. From the outset, Russia has shown a blatant disregard for sovereignty, territorial integrity, human rights and the impact of their actions on the frameworks that supports global peace and security.
Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014. For nearly a decade, Ukrainian citizens in Crimea – particularly Crimean Tatars – have endured systematic persecution, arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances. And with its renewed aggression, Russia has implemented its campaign to erase Ukrainian culture and identity throughout the newly occupied territories.
In the 995 days since, Russia’s aggression has targeted schools, hospitals, and homes across Ukraine with indiscriminate shelling. Just last week, Russian shells killed 14 civilians, including a one-year-old child, and left 88 more injured. Thousands of other Ukrainian civilians have been killed since February 2022, and millions have been forced to flee. The true scale of devastation is difficult to quantify, but cities such as Mariupol, Bucha, and Kharkiv bear the scars of a terror campaign designed to destabilise Ukraine.
Russia’s attacks on civilians, the systematic use of torture, forced deportations, and weaponisation of energy resources show complete disregard for human life. Recently, Russia has escalated its attacks on Ukrainian export infrastructure, blocking essential grain supplies to the global south and delaying aid to parts of the world that need it the most. As my Prime Minister said “Putin is willing to gamble on global food security […] harming millions across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East to try and gain the upper hand in his barbaric war.”
Russia has even turned to Iran and DPRK for substantial military support. DPRK’s deployment of thousands of troops to Russia is a dangerous and reckless development that further destabilises European security and raises tensions in the Indo-Pacific. Russia relies on third country support to fuel its war machine and prolong the suffering of the Ukrainian people. So together with our partners we will continue to call on those responsible to stop enabling Russia’s illegal war.
Russia’s actions violate the UN Charter and every OSCE commitment, from the Helsinki Final Act to the Paris Charter. The international community has responded with unity, implementing sanctions that cut off Russian military funding and providing humanitarian and military support to Ukraine. We commend the resilience of the Ukrainian people, who have shown remarkable ingenuity in defence of democratic values.
Colleagues, we are approaching the 1000th day of what was sold as a 3-day war. Even in its original conception it was completely unnecessary. Russia can choose to end this war. The UK reaffirms our commitment to Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity, alongside international partners. We will continue to hold Russia accountable and urge a just and lasting peace that respects the UN Charter and Helsinki Final Act.
