Statement by the Delegation of Ukraine at the informal meeting of the Working Group on the Strengthening and Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly

(10 February 2026)

Dear Co-Chairs,

Ukraine aligns itself with the objective of strengthening the role, authority and  effectiveness of the General Assembly as the most deliberative and representative organ of the United Nations.

The Charter clearly entrusts the General Assembly with a central role in upholding the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Allow me to address the two pillars under discussion today.

First - the Role and Authority of the General Assembly.

At a time of growing geopolitical fragmentation and repeated paralysis within the Security Council, the role of the General Assembly has become not merely important, but indispensable and critical.

On numerous occasions, the General Assembly has demonstrated leadership when the Security Council has been unable to discharge its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.

The Eleventh Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly stands as a historic and compelling demonstration of this responsibility in action, necessitated by the abuse of the veto by the Russian Federation.

Since February 2022, the Assembly has adopted eight landmark resolutions addressing the Russian Federation’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine.

Through these decisions, the General Assembly has reaffirmed the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine condemned the attempted illegal annexation of Ukrainian territories; demanded the immediate, complete, and unconditional withdrawal of Russian forces; called for accountability for violations of international law, as well as for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the principles of the Charter and international law.

Strengthening the General Assembly therefore means ensuring that it is able to fully perform its mandate under the Charter and to respond swiftly and decisively to threats to peace.

Second - working Methods of the General Assembly

At the same time, strengthening authority requires enhancing efficiency, transparency and impact.

In this regard, Ukraine supports:

• improved coordination between the General Assembly and the Security Council;
• clearer timelines and strengthened accountability mechanisms for the implementation of Assembly mandates and decisions;
• more disciplined and rational management of the agenda, including consolidation of overlapping items.

Dear Co-Chairs,

The credibility of the United Nations depends on its ability to respond effectively to aggression, uphold international law, and defend the fundamental principles of the Charter.

The Eleventh Emergency Special Session has demonstrated that when the Security Council is paralyzed, the General Assembly can and must step forward.

Revitalizing the work of the General Assembly is therefore not merely a technical exercise or optimization. It is a strategic necessity for preserving and strengthening multilateralism itself.

Ukraine remains committed to working constructively with Member States to ensure that the General Assembly remains strong, responsive, and capable of defending the Charter in times of crisis.

I thank you.