Statement by H.E. Ambassador Andrii Melnyk, LL.M., 

Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations, 

at the Informal Meeting of the General Assembly on the Secretary-General's Report 

"Review on the Future of All Forms of United Nations Peace Operations"

(26 August 2026)

 

 

Madam Vice-President,

Let me begin by thanking President Annalena Baerbock for convening this crucial discussion and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for presenting this strong comprehensive review.

As you know, Ukraine has been one of the biggest contributors to the UN peacekeeping operations during the last decades.

Sadly, the Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine in 2014 as well as the full-scale military invasion in 2022 made it impossible. 

Now, our soldiers must defend our homeland.

As a country that continues to defend itself against Russia's war of aggression, Ukraine does appreciate the importance of effective UN tools for conflict prevention, conflict management and the maintenance of international peace and security.

In this regard, we welcome the Secretary-General's efforts to ensure that UN peace operations remain fit for purpose in a rapidly changing security environment.

As we are discussing the future of UN peace operations, we should not forget that one of the Secretary-General’s previous reports on this very subject established a very clear safeguard for their integrity:

Those State parties repeatedly listed for grave violations against children or conflict-related sexual violence should not be accepted for participation in UN peace operations.

That policy was subsequently endorsed by the UN Security Council.

Today, the credibility of that policy is being tested.

Let me remind the Assembly that Russian armed forces have been blacklisted for grave violations against children for four consecutive years.

Let me repeat, four consecutive years.

Moreover, this year the Russian army was also blacklisted for patterns of conflict-related sexual violence.

Yet Russian personnel continue to serve under the UN flag.

We cannot seriously debate how to make peacekeeping stronger while disregarding safeguards designed to protect its integrity.

A blue helmet cannot become a privilege enjoyed irrespective of the conduct of the forces behind it.

We therefore call upon the UN Secretary-General to take all necessary steps regarding Russia’s continued participation in UN peace operations.

There shall be no impunity.

I thank you.