Mr. President,

The Ukrainian delegation voted in favor of the resolution for one reason – because of the document’s focus on the establishment of a ceasefire regime.

Even though numerous questions linger as to the scope and the substance of all understandings reached in Ankara on 29 December, we support efforts to put an end to the bloodshed and to alleviate sufferings of the Syrian people.

In this regard, we would like to stress that to make this ceasefire work, a necessary level of confidence and trust has to be built up between all parties, which is clearly missing now after so many years of the Syrian conflict . The latest reports about the ongoing fighting in Wadi Barada testify to the fragility of the situation.

Even though it is in the human nature to hope for the best, we would caution - given the sad track record of broken ceasefires and total deficit of trust to one of the guarantors of the latest one – that at this point it would be only prudent for this Council to keep a watchful eye on further developments as we enter the new year.

I thank you.