Statement by the Delegation of Ukraine at the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Working Methods of the Security Council

(14 November 2025)

 

Mr. President,

The delegation of Ukraine is grateful to the Sierra Leone Presidency for convening this important open debate. We also thank the briefers for their comprehensive presentations.

Ukraine believes that more transparent, efficient, and inclusive working methods of the Security Council are critical for enabling the Council to respond better and more promptly to threats to international peace and security.

The actions of the Russian Federation in the Security Council, following its full-scale aggression against Ukraine, clearly demonstrate how the misuse and instrumentalization of the Council’s tools can severely undermine its ability to respond effectively and fulfil its mandate under the UN Charter.

We are concerned, in this regard, that the Council’s working methods and procedures have themselves become targets for manipulation. This further erodes the Council’s efficiency - already a matter of profound concern among the wider UN membership.

Mr. President,

The issue of the ongoing aggression by the Russian Federation against my country, which has been at the top of the Council’s agenda almost four  years, serves as a clear example of such destructive practices. Russia’s misuse and manipulation of the Council’s tools are intended to divert attention, distort realities, and induce fatigue among Council members regarding the issue of aggression and the ongoing war against Ukraine.

Over the years, we have observed several such practices, including:

• spamming the Council’s agenda with issues that hardly fall within its mandate, particularly ideologically and politically motivated topics;
• retaliating against meetings under the agenda item “Maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine” by requesting additional Ukraine-related meetings the following day or shortly thereafter;
• blocking the Presidency’s monthly programmes of work if they include meetings under agenda item “Maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine”.

Mr. President,

All of these practices further discredit the Council and undermine its integrity, credibility, and effectiveness.

We therefore encourage the Council to address these problems and elaborate a set of measures to prevent the further misuse of its working methods and procedures. Such measures could be reflected in the next update of the Note by the President on the Council’s working methods.

We call on Council members to continue exploring new ways to modernize and improve the Council’s working methods in line with today’s challenges.

Strengthening the Council’s working methods is not merely a procedural exercise - it is essential for restoring trust in the Council’s authority and ensuring its ability to uphold the UN Charter and respond to threats to international peace and security.

Thank you.