Statement 

by the Delegation of Ukraine 

in Exercise of the Right of Reply to the Russian Federation 

during the Thematic Discussion on Cluster 4 (Conventional Weapons) 

of the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly 

at its Eighty-first Session

(22 October 2026, New York)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. 

We are compelled to take the floor again to exercise our right of reply in response to yet another attempt by the Russian delegation to justify its war of aggression against Ukraine, including under the label of so-called special military operation.

Russia continues to wage a war of aggression against Ukraine in flagrant violation of Article 2, paragraph 4 of the UN Charter.

Russia's attempts to justify its full-scale invasion of Ukraine under fabricated pretext have no basis in international law.

None of these arguments provides a lawful justification for the use of force against a sovereign state.

The International Court of Justice, in its order of 16 March 2022, directed Russia to immediately suspend the military operations it commenced on 24 February 2022 in the territory of Ukraine.

The UN General Assembly, in a number of its resolutions, condemned in the strongest terms Russia's aggression against Ukraine and demanded that Russia immediately, completely, and unconditionally withdraw all its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

Mr. Chair, 

Russia's aggression is accompanied by grave violations of international humanitarian law, including repeated attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Russia cannot invoke international law selectively while systematically violating its most fundamental principles. Ukraine, on the other hand, is exercising its inherent right of self-defense as enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter.

Ukraine remains committed to complying with international humanitarian law and its applicable international obligations in the field of arms control.

Now, we reiterate that the Russian Federation must cease its aggression, withdraw its forces from the entire, internationally recognized territory of Ukraine and comply fully with its obligations under the UN Charter and international law.

Russia must be judged not by its words, but by its deeds. And those deeds speak for themselves: aggression, occupation, widespread destruction, and countless atrocities committed against the Ukrainian people.

As the saying goes, “By their fruits you shall know them”.

Thank you.