STATEMENT

by Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine H.E. Mariana Betsa

at the 11^th emergency special session of the UN General Assembly

(24 February 2025)

Thank you Mr. President, 

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, distinguished colleagues, Your Excellences,

This is the moment of truth. This is the historic moment not only for Ukraine, not only for Europe but for the entire democratic world.

The way we answer to the Russian aggression today, the way we answer to Russian crimes and atrocities, the way we answer to the aggression as a tool of statecraft will determine not only Ukraine’s future, not only Europe’s future but the future of the democratic world and the future of the UN.

Are we ready to stand by the UN Charter?

Are we ready to stand by the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders, inviolability of borders and non-use of force?

Are we ready to abide by international law?

Mr. President,

Today marks 3 years of the full-scale war by the Russian Federation against Ukraine. Three years of Ukraine’s resistance, heroism and our solidarity.

Firstly, let me recall how Russian war against Ukraine started.

Eleven years ago, Ukraine faced one of the most dramatic and challenging periods in its modern history. While resisting an attempt to impose dictatorship, Ukrainians demonstrated dignity and defended their choice for democratic future in the family of European countries.

While the sovereign choice of Ukrainians posed no real threat to Russia, the Kremlin perceived it as a threat to their imperial and neo-colonial ambitions. In Kremlin’s distorted world Ukraine was relegated to the role of a Russian satellite within its sphere of influence.

For Russia, a military solution to this imagined "threat" was always an option. Disinformation campaigns, economic warfare, subversive activities, and election meddling – all of these laid the groundwork for the subsequent Russian aggression against Ukraine.

And immediately after the victory of the Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine Russia started its aggression against Ukraine with the attempted annexation of Crimea and temporary occupation of parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Weak international response to Russia's attacks on Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk back then led to a full-scale military invasion of my country from the north, east, and south three years ago.

Russia has plunged the entire world into yet another war. A war that is entirely unprovoked, unjustified and unlawful, driven solely by morbid geopolitical delusions of the past, and yet the bloodiest war in Europe after the Second World War.

All of us become targets at once.

Ukraine and Ukrainians – because Russia denies our very right to exist.

The world – because Russian missiles do not only strike Ukraine. They also shatter the global security architecture, which, three years into this invasion, remains riddled with gaping holes – much like the countless residential buildings destroyed across Ukraine.

The United Nations is under attack – because Russia attacked its very foundation of the UN Charter, blatantly violated the UN Charter and the core principles enshrined in it. Russia wants to replace the world based on international law to the world based on the rule of force.

And finally, Russia attacked humanity. Humanity itself is under attack – an unsurprising reality, given that Russia has made medieval cruelty a hallmark of its military strategy against a peaceful neighbor and blackmails everyone with its nuclear weapon.

Excellences,

Russia believed Ukraine would surrender, Russia believed Kyiv would fall in three days. Russia believed our government would flee.

However, Russia miscalculated gravely. 

Eleven years Ukraine stands firmly and resists.

The myth of Russia’s military invincibility has been shattered. What was once seen as an unstoppable force has been met with resilience, courage, and determination – reinforced by the unwavering support of the free world. Your solidarity has demonstrated that unity and the principles of the UN Charter are stronger than aggression and lawlessness.

I want to reiterate our profound gratitude to over 140 Member States that have stood with us, including those who supported relevant resolutions in this Hall.

To those who provided military aid to Ukraine, to those who provided humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, to those who received our temporarily displaced persons, to those who helped and continue to help to bring our deported children back home, prisoners of war back home, our illegally detained civilians back home. To those who have contributed to the implementation of our Grain from Ukraine initiative – a practical effort to mitigate global food security threats stemming from this war.

This war has never been about Ukraine only. It is about the fundamental right of any nation to exist, to choose its own path, and to live free from aggression. If an aggressor is justified and a victim is blamed for its resilience and will to survive, then no country is safe.

Today, Ukraine fights not only for its own independence but for a world where nations are not divided into predators and pray.

Where no zones of influence or “grey zones” exist.

We are fighting for a world which cannot be divided by another Molotov – Ribbentrop Pact. We stand up for the world where a future of a nation cannot be determined at another Yalta Conference.

Mr. President,

Three years of Russian full-scale aggression against Ukraine have made it clear that we are dealing with the protracted high intensity war with extreme levels of casualties and spillover effect, rippled across different areas and continents.

Let me stress once again that the UN were formed after WWII to prevent future world wars and maintain international peace and security. Against the backdrop of ongoing and upcoming peace efforts, the General Assembly should play pivotal role in determining the basis for the just and lasting peace in Ukraine and in Europe, as well as in standing for sovereignty of all states.

A clear message that the vision of comprehensive, just and lasting peace consistent with the UN Charter, that we endorsed in this Hall two years ago, remains valid and must be implemented without delay, already this year.

However, reducing the Assembly’s position to merely stating this desire is not enough. We need to reconfirm that the aggression should be condemned and discredited, not rewarded. Our position must include substantive elements and ensure that any future peace initiative aligns with the principles of the UN Charter.

This is the rationale behind the draft resolution that I have the honor to introduce today on behalf of the broad group of co-sponsors.

My delegation moves that, after hearing the introduction of all the L documents, the Assembly immediately proceeds to the consideration of our draft resolution, starting with draft resolution A/ES-11/L.10 on the understanding that the debate would resume immediately after action on the draft resolution and that the eleventh emergency session would be only temporarily adjourned after the conclusion of the debate.

We need clear guidelines – not just to silence weapons temporarily, but to achieve a sustainable and just solution. A solution that guarantees there will be no repetition of what happened three years ago, on February 24, 2022. Neither in Ukraine, nor elsewhere.

For us, for Ukraine the path forward is clear: the only way, as our President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated, to ensure comprehensive, just and lasting peace is to reaffirm our commitment to the UN Charter and to agree that principles enshrined in it – the principle of sovereignty and the principle of territorial integrity of states within its internationally recognized borders – must serve as the foundation.

By adopting the draft, the General Assembly will also address the global impact of the war and outline the areas where this impact has been particularly detrimental and where the engagement of all responsible nations would be crucial. In particular, there are global food security, energy security, the global economy, nuclear security and safety and the environment, justice and accountability.

As we mark three years of this devastating Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, we call on all nations to stand firm and to take the side. The side of the Charter, the side of humanity and the side of just and lasting peace. Peace through strength as the aggressor would never stop while seeing weakness.

Excellences,

Ukraine’s commitment to the UN Charter’s principles traces back to the first days of our Organization. Now it may seem to be symbolic that it was a representative of Ukraine who chaired 80 years ago the Committee responsible for drafting Preamble, Purposes and Principles of the future Charter at the UN Conference on International Organization in San Francisco in 1945.

Unfortunately, we have not yet reached the point when principles are respected by all and the Article 51 of the UN Charter is just a matter of history. Definitely not, as my country has been compelled to exercise its inherent right to self-defense under the abovementioned Article 51 following unprovoked, mean and brutal, genocidal war.

While persisting in defending our country until the threat is over, we strive for peace. Peace that will give the world another chance to live according to the rules. When all nations, regardless of size or geography, will equally enjoy their sovereign rights, rather than depend upon the mercy of more powerful.

This is the spirit that should guide us during the vote on the draft resolution “Advancing a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine”.

It will be a vote for peace, for the UN Charter, for each Member State!

I urge you to vote in favor of Ukraine’s draft resolution!