On 18 February, during the working visit to New York, Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Mariana Betsa took part in the UN Security Council's high-level open debate on “Maintenance of international peace and security: Practicing multilateralism, reforming and improving global governance”, initiated by the Chinese presidency.

The meeting was commemorating the 80th anniversary of the UN and was aimed at discussing ways to strengthen international cooperation, reform the UN Security Council and ensure a just global order.

In her statement, Mariana Betsa drew attention to the current crisis in the multilateral system, in particular, due to the inability of the UN to respond effectively to Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine. “Achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine will be a litmus test for the UN”, the Deputy Minister emphasized.

Mariana Betsa said that Russia's war against Ukraine has implications not only for European but also for global security, with its effects felt in Africa and the Middle East in particular.

“Russia has turned food and energy into weapons, exacerbating global crises. Its nuclear threats undermine decades of international non-proliferation efforts”, Mariana Betsa stated.

The Deputy Minister emphasized the need to reform the UN Security Council and limit the veto power of states that are parties to the conflict: “The Security Council cannot serve its primary function if it is paralyzed by countries like Russia, which is actively undermining its mission by waging an aggressive war against Ukraine.”

Mariana Betsa focused on the draft UN General Assembly resolution on a just peace in Ukraine, initiated by Ukraine, which will be put to a vote during the 20th plenary meeting of the 11th Emergency Special Session of the UN General Assembly on the third anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February. The Deputy Minister called for support for this document, which is intended to reaffirm the international community's commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the principles of the UN Charter.

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Statement by Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine H.E. Ms. Mariana Betsa at the Open Debate of the UN Security Council on “Practicing Multilateralism, Reforming and Improving Global Governance”

(18 February 2025)

Mr. President,

Ukraine commends the initiative of the Presidency of China to hold this important debate and takes note of the briefers’ presentations.

As it is rightly pointed out in the concept paper for this debate, “our world has entered a new period of turbulence and changes”. This means, in particular, that the foundations of multilateralism, that was supposed to be the bedrock of global security and stability, are under immense strain.

The Russian Federation’s war of aggression against Ukraine is among the starkest manifestations of this crisis. The very institutions – first and foremost, the UN – rooted in international law and designed to prevent such conflicts — failed to stop the aggressor.

It is true, as the concept note reminds that thank to the UN efforts, “no new world war has happened.” However, this offers little consolation to those Ukrainians whose towns have been completely destroyed – to the scale comparable to, or even exceeding, the devastation of the Second World War.

This war is not only about Ukraine. The Russian Federation has turned food and energy into weapons, exacerbating global crises. Its manipulation of energy supplies has destabilized markets far beyond Europe. Its nuclear threats undermine decades of non-proliferation efforts. This is a direct assault on global stability.

Moreover, suffering, destruction and casualties are not confined to Ukraine only, they are also endured in other conflicts across the globe, in particular in Africa and the Middle East.

Beyond this, we confront the attempts to undermine the credibility and efficacy of key multilateral institutions from inside. Nowhere are these malicious attempts more evident than in this Chamber, where a state that wages wars of aggression enjoys the privilege of a permanent seat and veto power. The Security Council cannot serve its primary function if it is paralyzed by those who actively undermine its mission.

This situation exposes a structural flaw within the Security Council and in the existing global governance system as a whole. To address it, our multilateral system must be strengthened with both preventive and enforcement mechanisms.

We are convinced that concrete actions are required to ensure that a State in the permanent seat, which is involved in a conflict or a situation that the Council is considering, is limited in the exercise of its veto right as it cannot do it impartially due to a conflict of interest.

If irresponsible behavior, even from the permanent seat, comes at a cost, the integrity and efficacy of our platform will be secured. If the UN begins to resemble a boxing ring, with fighters, their supporters and passive spectators, the prospects for the global security will be bleak.

Distinguished colleagues,

Achieving comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine will be a litmus test for multilateralism. As most of you are aware, we have submitted a draft GA resolution on the matter to be adopted on February 24.

In that draft we, in particular, propose to acknowledge multilateral processes aimed at achieving just peace consistent with the Charter, as well as efforts by various Member States in presenting their visions for a settlement.

It is a question now if we, as a global community, can uphold the fundamental principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the UN Charter? Or will we allow aggression and impunity to set dangerous precedents for future conflicts?

The answer will determine whether multilateralism remains a viable mechanism for global peace or whether it will erode into irrelevance. We believe that international support for Ukraine’s fight for freedom and independence implies joint upholding the territorial integrity and sovereignty as imperative principles of the international law as well as returning respect for the UN Charter.

I encourage you to support this draft as it will be the right answer to the above questions. We are confident that support of Ukraine in situation of illegal, unprovoked and unjustified Russia’s war of aggression means support of the territorial integrity as a UN principle. 

Ukraine, in its turn, stands ready to work with all responsible nations to ensure that the UN is not just a forum for statements, but a force for action. We urge this Council to rise to the challenge and take decisive steps toward meaningful reform. The cost of inaction is too high—not just for Ukraine, but for the future of multilateralism and the international order itself.

Thank you.