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Statement by Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Sergíy Kyslytsya at the UN Security Council meeting on “Threats to international peace and security” (20 December 2024)

Mr. President, distinguished members of the Security Council, Under-Secretary-General Nakamitsu,

I also recognize here putin’s caporegime in the permanent seat of the Soviet Union.

As it is often the case, just a few days after a Security Council meeting on “Maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine”, a meeting that he labelled as [I quote] “a desperate attempt to keep Ukraine afloat as a topic on the Council's agenda”, the Russian delegation has called yet another meeting – evidently aiming to drown this topic in a flood of lies and disinformation. 

We reiterate our condemnation of such misuse of the Council's time and resources. 

At the same time, Russia’s actions follow a troubling logic. 

We have already drawn the Council's attention to the clear correlation between the timing of Russian attacks on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure and Russia-initiated Council meetings like today. This correlation has been registered in at least 18 cases. Lety me highlight just a few recent examples.

April 11: Russia launched a missile strike targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure. April 12: Security Council meeting called by Russia.

June 12: Russia struck residential buildings in Kryvyi Rih, killing nine people. June 14 - a Council meeting again.

October 29 and 30: residential areas in Kryvyi Rih, Odesa, and Sumy were shelled. October 31 - another Council meeting, called by Russia.

The matrix is: 

A. Plan a strike 

B. Call a UNSC meeting 

C. Carry out a strike 

D. Hold a meeting to complain about “western supply of weapons”.

This morning, Russia has once again prefaced a Security Council meeting with air terror against Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, Kherson, and Kryvyi Rih. 

In Kyiv alone, five ballistic missiles—Iskanders or North Korean KN-23—and 40 drones of Iranian origin were launched. Residential areas in the central districts, a business center, the iconic St. Nicholas Cathedral—one of the city's architectural landmarks—and energy infrastructure sustained damage and destruction. Diplomatic missions of Albania, Argentina, North Macedonia, Portugal, Montenegro, and Palestine were also damaged. Tragically, the attack resulted in casualties and injuries.

In Kherson, within just 40 minutes, Russians fired approximately 1,000 artillery shells. The city infrastructure suffered significant damage, and there were killed and injured among Kherson’s residents.

Ukrainian law enforcement agencies continue their work to identify those responsible for the shelling of Ukrainian cities and the deaths of Ukrainian and foreign citizens. 

Today, the Security Service of Ukraine issued a notice of charges against Russian Colonel General Kim, who ordered the missile strike on the hotel in Kramatorsk on August 24, that killed a Reuters journalist and injured five other members of Reuters crew.

Against the backdrop of ongoing aggression and atrocities against Ukrainians, including relentless air terror, Ukraine uses its weaponry against legitimate military targets on occupied Ukrainian territory and on the territory of Russia. 

These targets include airfields, ammunition and fuel depots, logistical routes, military industry facilities, and deployment sites for military equipment and personnel.

Mr.President,

To the regular flood of lies and disinformation, that I mentioned earlier in my statement, putin’s envoy has added today crocodile tears about human suffering and destruction.

I remind in this regard that there is a simple way for Russia to end sufferings and destruction caused by the war – to end the war itself. It is more than easy to do for Russia the country that launched this war and continues to escalate it. 

Instead, yesterday Putin called for a so-called "hi-tech duel" between Russia and the Western countries—where Russia would strike the Ukrainian capital with medium-range ballistic missiles while Western missile defense systems attempt to protect it.

Evidently, even putin's envoy today chose not to mention this insane idea, realizing that it belongs more in a psychiatric ward rather than in the Security Council.

Indeed, yesterday’s statements from Putin left no doubt about both his pathological cruelty and his evident psychiatric issues. War and killing are tragedies and disasters for any sane person, but for Putin, they are an exciting and entertaining "action" when Russians "get bored" with calmness and stability.

And when Putin—whom even Russians label as the “bunker grandpa”—speaks of bullets whistling over his head, no further commentary is needed.

Overall, yesterday's revelations from Putin leave no room for doubt: his regime must be neutralized as soon as possible. Appeasement, agreements, advocacy for the Kremlin, or hopes that you can avoid being affected – none of this works with deranged dictators. 

One may try to be a Putinversteher, but when Putin and his cronies grow bored again and seek another entertaining “action”, your country could become the next arena for “high-tech duels.”

This is why Ukraine is deeply grateful to all our partners who help us defend our sovereignty, ourselves, and our children.

I reiterate that Ukraine never wanted this war, and more than any other country across the globe, Ukraine wants the war to end. Forcing Russia to cease its aggression requires a powerful and effective international coalition of states that share the principles of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the Peace Formula and the UN Charter, with which the Formula fully complies.

We therefore urge the Council to focus on the ways to remove threats stemming from the Russian aggressive neo-imperialism, and to ensure war criminals are hold accountable.

I thank you.