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Statement 

by the Deputy Permanent Representative of Ukraine Mr. Volodymyr Pavlichenko

at the United Nations Security Council High-Level Open Debate 

“Maintenance of international security: Natural resource governance: 

The foundation of peace, security and prosperity”

(22 July 2026)

 

Mr. President, 

I thank the DRC Presidency for organizing today's important debate. We also thank the briefers for their valuable contribution.

It was rightly mentioned today, that natural resources can either fuel conflict or become a foundation for peace and prosperity.

Unfortunately, Ukraine's experience clearly demonstrates how an aggressor State can exploit natural resources to finance war, undermine sovereignty and threaten international peace and security.

And Russia is doing exactly that. It transformed Ukraine’s natural resources from assets of development into instruments of war.

Even today Russian representative attempted to blame others in starting wars to invade foreign territories and exploit resources but missed the beam in his own eye. Russia, as an aggressor state, doesn’t have legal and moral right in this Council to discuss and interfere with our sovereign right to use our resources.

Since the beginning of its full-scale invasion, Russia has systematically seized, illegally appropriated and exploited Ukraine's natural resources in the temporarily occupied territories. This includes coal, iron ore, critical minerals, agricultural land, forests, water resources and other national assets, as well as the infrastructure used to extract and transport them. Russia is stealing our wheat and oilseeds and other produce.

Such actions violate international law, deprive Ukraine of its sovereign resources and provide additional revenues to sustain Russia's war effort and prolong its aggression against Ukraine.

This demonstrates that the challenge before us is broader.

Thus, the international community must also address the illegal extraction, trade and export of natural resources originating from occupied territories and ensure that such resources never enter legitimate international markets. And we thank our partners for imposing robust sanctions regimes against Russia.

Strengthening transparency and traceability throughout global supply chains is therefore essential. States and businesses alike must ensure that resources illegally extracted from occupied territories are neither imported nor traded.

And we don’t have to shy away from bringing into accountability those who help Russia to exploit our natural resources.

Mr. President

Ukraine also believes that natural resource governance cannot be separated from respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States. Sustainable management of natural resources is impossible where international law is violated, territories are occupied and local communities are deprived of their rights.

As the world moves towards the green and digital transition, demand for critical raw materials will continue to grow. This makes it even more important to ensure that these resources become drivers of sustainable development rather than instruments of coercion, aggression or conflict.

We therefore support efforts to strengthen international cooperation, improve traceability mechanisms, promote transparency and accountability, and prevent the illicit exploitation of natural resources in conflict situations.

Mr. President,

Natural resources must never become a reward for aggression or a source of financing of wars. Every nation holds the foundational right to use its natural resources to pursue national development, prosperity and well-being. But it should be supported by robust implementation of UN Charter and international law.

Once the renowned Indian agronomist Dr Swaminathan said, and I quote “The future belongs to nations who have grains not guns. Guns you can purchase, grains you cannot”.

So the future is not wars, but about our cooperation on the peaceful use of scarce resources.

Thank you.