Statement by Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Sergiy Kyslytsya at the UN Security Council meeting on “Maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine”

(16 January 2025)

Mr. President, distinguished members of the Security Council, Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo,

I also recognize here Putin’s caporegime in the permanent seat of the Soviet Union.

The best way to react to the Russian tantrums is to refuse to match their volume of screams. We need to stay calm and carry on calmly explaining to them that they cannot and that they will not have what they want. 101 Parenting, if you wish.

A few days ago, we had a highly important Arria-formula meeting to address the crimes committed by Russia against Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian detainees. I would like to reiterate my heartfelt gratitude to all those who contributed to discussing this critical issue on the Security Council platform.

Yesterday, another prisoner exchange, the first of 2025, took place and 25 more Ukrainians returned home. Due to Ukraine’s efforts a special mechanism has effectively been established for the repatriation of seriously ill and injured POWs.

The Ukrainians released on Wednesday endured severe hardships in captivity as they lacked adequate medical care and faced inhumane treatment. Their conditions include loss of vision, limb amputations, severe gunshot wounds, and the effects of blast trauma. Among the illnesses are tuberculosis, cancer, and gangrene, which are stark evidence of the appalling conditions in which our people were held. 

Russian captivity kills, and we urge the members of the Council to strengthen their pressure on Russia through both multilateral mechanisms and bilateral efforts to ensure all detainees are brought safely back home from Russian prisons.

Mr.President,

As we approach the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion, it is clear that for Ukraine this remains a war for survival. This harsh reality was reconfirmed recently by one of Putin’s closest accomplices, Nikolai Patrushev, who expressed in an interview his hope that "Ukraine will cease to exist in 2025."

Let me reiterate that this destructive ambition has guided Russian policy for decades. It began with hybrid operations and economic pressure, escalated into the aggression in Crimea and Donbas, and culminated in the launch of the full-scale war in 2022.

Statements like these, exposing the true intentions of the Russian leadership, deserve the utmost attention—particularly from those who refrain from contributing to efforts to hold the aggressor accountable, mostly – in exchange for short-term economic benefits.

These efforts are even more urgent as Russia’s accomplices have already gone beyond merely supplying the Kremlin with weapons and munitions.

We all remember how vehemently Russia denied in this Chamber any involvement of the DPRK troops in its war against Ukraine. Russian DPR, for instance, called this information  "fearmongering," and oddly mentioned “Martians and little green men”, perhaps being inspired by visions only he could see. Three weeks later his boss described an idyllic picture of Russia-DPRK partnership that [I quote] "is not directed against any third countries."

Last week Ukrainian Defense Forces captured North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region. Two of them, despite being wounded, survived and were transported to Kyiv. This was a difficult task as Russian and North Korean military personnel typically execute the wounded DPRK soldiers to eliminate evidence of North Korea’s involvement in the war against Ukraine.

As investigation revealed, these two soldiers were regular North Korean troops, not mercenaries, that were taking an active part in combat actions.

Immediately after their capture, the North Korean POWs received all necessary medical assistance. Now they are being held in proper conditions in accordance with the Geneva Conventions.

At the time of capture, one detainee was found with a Russian-style military ID issued in the name of another individual registered in the Republic of Tuva, Russia. The other detainee had no documents at all.

During interrogation, the North Korean soldier with the military ID stated that the document was issued to him in Russia in the fall of 2024. He revealed that at that time some North Korean combat units underwent coordination training with Russian groups for a week. Notably, this prisoner, like many Russian soldiers at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, claimed he was sent for "training," not to fight against Ukraine. The second prisoner corroborated this testimony.

Mr.President,

In satisfying its irrational Nazi-like hatred towards Ukrainians, Russia particularly relies on terrorist missile attacks targeting civilian infrastructure. The latest one was carried out yesterday. In the depths of winter, the Russian target remains the same: our energy infrastructure. Yesterday Russia tried to hit gas facilities and critical energy systems essential for maintaining the everyday life of Ukrainian people.

To this end Russia launched 43 ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as 74 combat drones.

At least 30 missiles and 47 drones were intercepted and Ukraine has managed to keep its energy system operational. At the same time, those missiles that reached their target caused damage and destruction that resulted in the disruption of electricity and heat supply in various regions. This again testifies to the urgent need to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense capabilities.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Russia has spent more than USD 18 billion on missile and drone strikes against Ukraine. And Russia will persist with escalation as long as it has the financial resources to fuel this war.

Oil and gas revenues constitute the main source to this end. It is essential therefore to dry up these revenue streams by strengthening primary and secondary sanctions against Russia's economy.

In particular, the current sanctions pressure on Russian oil export capacities must be intensified. Russia's so-called “shadow fleet” consists of over 600 vessels, transporting approximately 90% of its oil.

The aging tanker fleet represents a serious environmental and human health hazard, as evidenced by the recent incident with two Russian tankers in the Kerch Strait. The consequences of fuel oil spill affect not only Black Sea marine life but also local communities in coastal areas, with reports of casualties linked to toxic fumes. We cannot allow such disasters to occur again anywhere else.

We welcome the introduction of new US, UK and EU sanctions against Russia's oil sector – sanctions against the shadow tanker fleet, against companies like Surgutneftegaz, which serves as Putin's personal wallet.

We are also grateful to the United States for imposing sanctions against the leadership of Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation “Rosatom”. These designations are crucial to pressure Russia’s nuclear industry given the occupation of our Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

While referring to the above decisions by the United States, I would like to reiterate our profound appreciation for the cooperation and support by the US delegation under the able leadership of Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

I would also like to highlight today’s signing of the One Hundred Year Partnership Agreement between Ukraine and the UK. This agreement serves as a pivotal example of forward-thinking and pragmatic relations between two friendly nations, united in their determination to address the threats and challenges arising from Russia’s war.

Further steps on sanctions track could include reducing the price cap on Russian oil to $40 per barrel, imposing sanctions on the captains of shadow fleet vessels and crewing companies, strengthening oversight of tanker insurance compliance, and restricting the passage of tankers blacklisted under international port control memorandums.

Russia’s war budget for 2025 is 25% bigger than last year’s. If we want to stop the war, we should cut off Putin’s cash flow. Putin will start thinking about peace only when his inner circle tells him he is out of money.

Mr.President,

Ukraine, like no one else, wants peace – but we will not accept the concept of "peace at any price", as it will bring no real and lasting peace at all. This will just encourage the aggressor to continue violating international law, and not only in Ukraine.

Russia's geopolitical ambitions go well beyond Ukraine. For those who may have forgotten the ultimatums Russia issued before the invasion, I would remind their core demand: "NATO must revert to its 1997 borders." This is a point worth keeping in mind by some nations that joined the Alliance at a later stage.

If we want to live in a safe and secure world, we must spare no effort to counteract Russia's aggressive imperialistic policies. The implementation of the concept of "peace through strength" is the only effective tool to stop the aggressor and ensure a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in line with the principles of the UN Charter.

The diplomatic path to such a peace lies through the implementation of the Peace Formula. We are also ready to consider other nations’ peace ideas that take into account the need to restore the territorial integrity of Ukraine, do not equate the victim with the aggressor, and are based on the principle of "nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine". They can be discussed in the formats offered by the Peace Formula.

I thank you.