Statement in explanation of position

by Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine

 
H.E. Mr. Denys Uliutin on draft resolution of the UN General Assembly A/AC.293/2026/L.1

entitled “Progress Declaration of the International Migration Review Forum” 

(8 May 2026)

Madam President, 

Ukraine has joined consensus on the resolution on the adoption of the Progress Declaration of the second International Migration Review Forum (IMRF).

We thank the Permanent Representatives of the Republic of Kenya and Luxembourg for their excellent facilitation of this intergovernmental process.

At the same time, Ukraine underlines the importance of sustaining international attention to the impact of armed conflicts on migration processes worldwide.

Forced displacement is increasingly driven by wars of aggression, attacks against civilians and the destruction of critical infrastructure. These factors have profound humanitarian and socio-economic consequences for affected populations and regions.

We continue to experience these realities every day as a result of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. This war has caused one of the largest displacement crises in Europe since the Second World War, forcing more than 5.8 million Ukrainians to seek temporary refuge abroad, while millions more have been internally displaced.

We strongly condemn the ongoing war of aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, which has significantly exacerbated global humanitarian and migration challenges through attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure and through the destruction of essential services, including housing, education, healthcare and energy systems.

Ukraine stresses that persons displaced by war and aggression must not be reduced to abstract migration statistics. Behind every number are human lives, families separated from their homes, children deprived of normal childhoods and communities struggling to preserve social cohesion under conditions of insecurity.

In this context, we believe that migration governance frameworks should better reflect and address the specific consequences of armed conflicts and forced displacement caused by violations of international law and the Charter of the United Nations.

Ukraine remains committed to constructive international cooperation within the framework of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, including through efforts to strengthen community resilience at home, support citizens wherever they are and create conditions for their return when circumstances allow.

Thank you.