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STATEMENT

Explanation of position by Chargée d’Affaires Khrystyna Hayovyshyn 

on the draft Resolution 

“Eightieth anniversary of the end of the Second World War” (A/79/L.51)

4 March 2025

Mr. President,

I would like to make a Statement to explain my Delegation’s position on the draft resolution “Eightieth anniversary of the end of the Second World War” L.51.

The horrors of World War II compelled humanity to establish a global framework to prevent such atrocities from recurring. It was for this purpose that the United Nations was founded, and my country, Ukraine, is proud to be one of its founding members. 

Eighty years ago, the world united its efforts against Hitler and its allies and at the cost of tens of millions of lives, Nazism was stopped. Yet, Kremlin aspires to completely monopolise the Allied victory over Hitler, as if it alone played a decisive role in the victory over Nazism and as if it suffered the greatest losses.

Despite the high price paid for peace, the promise of “Never Again” remains unfulfilled. Since 1945, wars have continued to ravage the world, and today, Europe is witnessing the most brutal war since Hitler.

The Russian Federation, which seeks to monopolize the memory of World War II, is waging war of aggression against Ukraine, repeating the very crimes it claims to oppose. Just as the Nazis dehumanized their victims, Russia dehumanizes Ukrainians, justifying mass violence under the false pretext of “denazification.” 

The Russian Federation started its armed aggression against Ukraine 11 years ago. For over three years, since its full-scale military invasion of our country, Russia has committed relentless atrocities: missile strikes on civilians, systematic torture, executions of prisoners of war, and the abduction of Ukrainian children—acts that meet the legal definition of genocide.

Against this backdrop, it is the height of cynicism for a state engaged in an unprovoked war of aggression to attempt to unite nations around the memory of World War II. This hypocrisy is particularly evident in paragraph 5 of the preamble to the draft resolution.

What does an aggressor state need more “to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State”? Why doesn’t the aggressor state follow this call from the paragraph 5 of the preamble to the draft resolution and immediately stop its own aggression against sovereign and independent Ukraine? 

On the contrary, while we are approaching the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the Russian Federation fuels its aggression further. By emphasising its exclusive role in the victory over Nazism, the Kremlin diverts attention from its crimes in both the past and the current war of aggression against Ukraine.

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is not merely a regional conflict; it is a direct consequence of the failure of global deterrence mechanisms established after World War II.

Those who downplay Russia’s aggression ignore a grim reality: Moscow’s actions are a prelude to a wider global crisis. 

Mr. President,

Ukraine has always supported the commemoration of memory of all victims of WWII and will continue to do as the nation who made prominent contribution to defeat of Nazism and the one - most devastated by this war.

However, as we commemorate the victims of World War II, we must also remember the causes and preconditions that led to that catastrophe.

The Second World War was made possible by the civilised world's hesitation to confront Nazism decisively, instead attempting to appease it.

History does not recognize the subjunctive mood but had there been no attempts to appease Hitler in Munich in 1938, Nazism might never have felt its power and impunity—an impunity that certainly emboldened further aggression. 

We must also remember how the war began: with the invasion of Poland from both the West and the East. The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact—a shameful geopolitical disaster that divided spheres of influence in Europe between Nazi State and Soviet Union—and along with the Munich Conference paved the way for global conflict. Today, the echoes of those tragic miscalculations are louder than ever. 

We can still prevent another such catastrophe. The only way is to secure a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace for Ukraine, Europe, and the entire world. Peace through strength. Strength in facing the aggressor and forcing it to peace. And not the vice-versa.

We urge the President of the General Assembly and the UN Secretariat to acknowledge these realities when organizing the commemorative event—recognizing that the Russian Federation has forfeited any moral right to own and penhold this issue.

Thank you.