Statement by the delegation of Ukraine at the IGN meeting on Rev3 of the IGN Contribution to the Pact of the Future

(20 June 2024)

Distinguished Co-Chairs,

The delegation of Ukraine would like to thank you for your tireless efforts to facilitate the IGN contribution to the Pact for the Future. We realize how difficult this task is in relation to the process marked mostly with divergences rather than convergences.

Ukraine’s position on the Security Council’s reform is clear and consistent. We see this process as a joint endeavour aimed at

identifying existing weaknesses and

developing a common vision of how to fill the gaps that currently undermine the capacity of the UN Security Council to take effective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to the peace, and for the suppression of acts of aggression.

We have developed this logic within the framework of the Peace Formula and we consider this approach should guide our efforts to contribute to the Pact for the Future.

In this regard, it is essential to maintain the veto issue in the OGN contribution. While the concrete modalities of future arrangements on this issue remain a matter of further negotiations, our commitment to address the misuse of veto should be a part of our final product.

This commitment could be based on our readiness to practically address the existing initiatives in this domain, including restricting the use of “veto” in cases of

genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, as well as

conflicts and situations a permanent member is involved in and cannot vote impartially due to the conflict of interests.

The latter is especially relevant in cases where such a state is recognized by the UN General Assembly as an Aggressor State.

We deem it is important to make the IGN input more focused on these critical issues, by placing stronger and more visible emphasis on them in the text.

In addition to the issue of the veto, the list includes the issue of using the Article 27(3) of the UN Charter as an important tool to prevent immobilization of the Council since the early stages of a situation of concern.

Ukraine also supports the commitment to better reflect the realities of the contemporary world by improving the representation of the underrepresented and unrepresented regions, redressing the historical injustice against Africa, and increasing representation of developing countries and small- and medium-sized states, and other cross-regional groups.        

At the same time, we should realize that the ultimate success of the Security Council’s reform will depend upon our readiness to address the root causes of the current immobilization of this body in addressing the grave violations of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Member States, and this is the ongoing ability of the aggressor to block the Council’s activities from within.

 I thank you