Statement 

by Deputy Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Khrystyna Hayovyshyn 

at the UN Security Council High-Level Open Debate 

"Poverty, Underdevelopment, and Conflict: Implications for the Maintenance of International Peace and Security"

(19 June 2025)

Madam President,

Ukraine is grateful to the Presidency of Guyana for convening this timely and important open debate.

Our delegation aligns with the Statement of the European Union and would like to make few remarks in national capacity.

Ukraine welcomes the initiative to focus the Council’s attention on the interlinkages between poverty, underdevelopment and conflict – a theme that is highly relevant to today’s global context.

We fully support the premise that there can be no lasting peace without sustainable development, and no sustainable development without peace. These are mutually reinforcing goals. The Security Council has a critical role to play in promoting both – through its mandates, through its cooperation with other UN organs, and through its conflict prevention efforts.

As a country currently resisting a full-scale war of aggression, Ukraine deeply understands the devastating impact of conflict on development: the destruction of infrastructure, forced displacement, and the collapse of livelihoods.

Yet even in wartime, Ukraine continues to invest in its development and contribute to global stability. We are proud to be one of the world’s key exporters of agricultural products. Despite the war, Ukraine remains committed to helping feed the world – especially those facing hunger and food insecurity in vulnerable regions.

We also recognize that conflict and poverty are mutually reinforcing. The international community must therefore strengthen the resilience of countries facing crisis, and help create conditions for inclusive economic growth, accountable governance, and sustainable peace. This includes prioritizing early recovery, education, healthcare, and rebuilding infrastructure as part of peacebuilding strategies.

Ukraine supports further efforts by the Security Council to align its work more closely with the Economic and Social Council, the Peacebuilding Commission, and other relevant bodies, to ensure that root causes of conflict are addressed comprehensively.

As we mark the 80th anniversary of the UN Charter this year, we must renew our commitment to building a world where peace and prosperity are not privileges, but universal rights. For this, we need a Security Council that acts decisively and effectively in times of war and in times of warning and prevention.

Thank you.