Statement by Chargée d’Affaires of Ukraine to the UN Khrystyna Hayovyshyn at the informal meeting of the plenary of the UN General Assembly to hear a briefing by the Secretary-General on the UN80 Initiative

(19 May 2025)

Mr. President,

Thank you for reconvening this important meeting.

Ukraine aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union.

Thank you to the Secretary-General for presenting the UN80 Initiative. We commend this commitment to reforming the UN and ensuring that the Organization remains fit for purpose as it approaches its 80th anniversary.

As already highlighted, this is a pivotal moment for the United Nations amid escalating global challenges and rising expectations of the UN system. The reform must be sharply focused on enhancing the UN’s ability to fulfil its core mandate with greater effectiveness.

We must ensure that any reform aims at and strengthens adherence to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law and by this ensure that the Organization is strong enough to address existing challenges to global peace and security.

Our efforts to advance United Nations reform must be firmly anchored in the principles of multilateralism, as reaffirmed in the Pact for the Future. It is imperative to preserve the integrity and ensure the balanced advancement of the three foundational pillars of the UN Charter: peace and security, sustainable development and human rights.

Any restructuring or streamlining of the UN system must preserve the mandates that provide life-saving humanitarian assistance to those in greatest need worldwide. These mandates are indispensable.

For millions around the world, including in Ukraine, the UN’s humanitarian operations are a lifeline. Reforms aimed at improving efficiency must not come at the cost of effectiveness – especially when human lives are at stake.

We therefore call for the UN80 process to uphold the integrity of humanitarian mandates and to ensure predictable and adequate funding for critical relief operations.

Cost-reduction measures, including staff relocations, must be guided by a comprehensive and long-term cost assessment that takes into account the interests of the UN system as a whole. It is essential that the UN provides a consistent and detailed information and data across the entire system to support informed decision-making.

The delegation of Ukraine stands ready to engage constructively in this process and looks forward to considering concrete proposals in this direction.

Thank you.