Statement by the Delegation of Ukraine under cluster 4 Conventional weapons of the UNGA First Committee

 (24 October 2025)

 

Chair,

Ukraine aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. We would like to make some additional remarks in our national capacity.

Ukraine reiterates its support for the existing international instruments in the field of conventional arms control, including the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, UN Programme of Action on SALW and its International Tracing Instrument, the Global Framework for Through-Life Conventional Ammunition Management (Global Framework) and other relevant instruments in this field.

We welcome the outcomes of the preparatory meeting held in June 2025 and look forward to the first Meeting of States of the Global Framework in 2027.

In response to the Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we have created transparent mechanisms for monitoring the receipt and use of weapons and ammunition received from international partners as part of military assistance.

We reiterate that all weapons received by Ukraine from its partners are used precisely to exercise the right to self-defense pursuant to Article 51 of the UN Charter.

In 2024, the Ukrainian Government established the National Coordination Center for Combating Illicit Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components, and Ammunition for Them (Coordination Centre). The inaugural meeting of the Coordination Centre was held in February 2025.

The main functions of the Centre include coordination of the efforts of government agencies and institutions in countering the illicit flow of firearms, facilitating information exchange between Ukrainian authorities and international partners, ensuring access to comprehensive data on weapons, and further improving the national legal framework in this field.

Chair,

Russia has been deliberately and systematically using cluster munitions against Ukraine’s Defense Forces and civilians during its war of aggression against Ukraine.

Such attacks have taken place in Ukrainian cities and villages, resulting in numerous civilian casualties, including children, and extensive destruction of residential, medical, educational, and critical infrastructure.

We emphasize that Russia is deliberately and systematically use cluster munitions to maximize civilian casualties and destruction. This is an element of Moscow’s broader policy of terror against the Ukrainian people.

We stress that these actions constitute a flagrant violation of fundamental norms of international humanitarian law, particularly the 1949 Geneva Convention, Additional Protocol I of 1977 to the Geneva Conventions as well as the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which defines intentionally directing attacks against civilian objects, that is, objects which are not military objectives, as war crimes.

Ukrainian competent authorities will continue documenting and opening criminal proceedings regarding these atrocities to ensure accountability for those responsible.

Chair, 

We would like to stress that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is being supported by Iran and the DPRK in direct violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

Iran and the DPRK have unlawfully transferred drones, missiles, and ammunition to Russia. Furthermore, the DPRK has also sent its troops to Russia to support the latter’s war against Ukraine.

We recall that Russia vetoed the UN Security Council draft resolution on the extension of the mandate of the Panel of Experts of the 1718 Committee, which led to the termination of activities of the Panel.

In particular, arms and ammunition of DPRK origin are actively used by Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine. In particular, Moscow is using KN-23 ballistic missiles in its attacks on Ukrainian peaceful cities.

We call on UN Member States to unequivocally condemn the military and military-technical cooperation between Russia and the DPRK, including arms transfers and training of DPRK soldiers in violation of international law and multiple UN Security Council resolutions and hold these countries accountable.

We urge all countries to immediately cease any direct or indirect assistance to Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine, including the provision of direct military aid and the supply of dual-use goods sustain Russia’s war effort.

Thank you, Chair.