Statement by the delegation of Ukraine at the meeting of the UN General Assembly on agenda item 63 “Use of veto” (23 April 2024)

Mr. President,

Ukraine has aligned itself with the statement, delivered by Liechtenstein on behalf of the group of the UN Members States and would like to add a few remarks in its national capacity. 

Two years ago, Ukraine was among initial co-sponsors of the resolution 76/262 that established the standing mechanism and thus strengthened the role of the General Assembly in a situation when a veto is cast in the Security Council. We welcome the fact that now this initiative seems to be well embedded in our working practices.

The issue of the use of veto has always been of particular importance for Ukraine and other Member States who uphold the Charter of the United Nations and its principles. Against the backdrop of the Russian invasion of my country, with deliberate immobilization of the Security Council as a part of Russia´s aggressive strategy, this issue has become even more relevant as ever before.

Almost every draft resolution that the UN Security Council attempted to adopt in response to the Russian aggression against Ukraine beginning from 2014 was blocked due to abuse of veto by the country, which occupied the USSR seat in the Security Council – the Russian Federation.

In particular, Russia casted veto on draft decisions:

- on territorial integrity of Ukraine in 2014 when it launched armed aggression and started temporary occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, 

- on MH-17 when it shot down the Malaysian flight in 2014 over the territory of Ukraine, 

- on condemnation of its aggression when a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine started in February 2022 and 

- on attempted annexation of the sovereign territories of Ukraine in September 2022.

Despite Russia was alone in voting against, it was enough to block the Council from exercising its primary responsibility – to maintain international peace and security.

Mr. President,  

Ukraine reiterates that the veto power was designed not as a privilege but responsibility. It runs counter the spirit of the UN Charter that Russia in recent years misused the veto power to block resolutions as well as other measures designed to address its aggression and war crimes.

Ukraine therefore is a staunch supporter of existing initiatives aiming at limiting the use of veto and strengthening the responsibility for its cast, notably the Code of Conduct Regarding Security Council Action Against Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity or War Crimes, prepared by the ACT Group, as well as Franco-Mexican initiative on the Suspension of Veto.

Also, we should not tolerate on-going ignorance of the principle contained in the Article 27(3) of the UN Charter, envisaging that in decisions under Chapter VI, and under paragraph 3 of Article 52, a party to a dispute shall abstain from voting.

Moreover, we are convinced that the use of the veto should also be restricted when a permanent member is directly involved in the conflict under consideration of the Council, and, therefore, cannot be expected to exercise its voting rights and privileges in an impartial manner. 

The UN membership cannot further tolerate the abuse of veto and should seek for strengthening of accountability. We encourage the General Assembly to translate our commitment into action by strengthening existing mechanisms and implementing existing initiatives that prevent the aggressor from taking the Security Council hostage and turning it into a mere observer of the aggressor’s crimes. 

Thank you!