EU Statement – UN Security Council: Ukraine

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President,

I have the honour of delivering this statement on behalf of the EU and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia, Montenegro*, Albania*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina* and Georgia, as well as Andorra, align themselves with this statement.

I thank the DRC Presidency for convening this meeting. Thank you to the briefers for their factual updates.

The death and destruction caused by Russia's unprovoked aggression against Ukraine continues unabated. The UN has verified over 2000 civilian casualties in June alone, the highest in four years. Almost all occurred in Ukraine's urban centres as a result of Russian aerial bombardments. While the world demands a ceasefire and negotiations, Russia responds with brutal attacks against Ukraine's cities and their population. Last week it destroyed Latvia's Honorary Consulate in Sloviansk. We are now also seeing a trend of attacks even against humanitarian workers bringing relief to people living close to the frontlines.

By every standard it has set for itself, Russia is not achieving its objectives. It spends 40% of its budget on its military and security. It has suffered over a million casualties for minimal territorial gains. It stands isolated internationally, and its economy is under heavy strain. The fact that this cynical brutality against civilians is now fuelled by Russia's desperation with its failures on the battlefield excuses neither its inhumanity nor its blatant violations under international law. In fact, it compounds them both.

The EU continues to stand firmly in defense of international law as enshrined in the UN Charter. We will continue to support Ukraine in exercising its inherent right to self defense under Article 51 of the Charter. We have mobilized over 200 billion EUR to this end, all in response to an illegal invasion by a permanent member of this Council.

We continue to call for a full, unconditional and immediate ceasefire as well as a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine based on international law including the UN Charter. We call on Russia and its ally Belarus to immediately ensure the safe and unconditional return of all unlawfully deported and transferred Ukrainian children. We urge all countries, including the members of this Council, to cease any assistance or diplomatic cover to Russia, whether direct or indirect.

Colleagues,

Russia can not succeed in changing borders by force or in escaping accountability for its actions. The sooner it realises this, and the sooner it ends its aggression and comes to the negotiating table, the sooner this senseless cycle of death and destruction has a chance to end. We urge all members of this Council to work with us in pressuring Russia to do so. And to ensure full accountability for war crimes and the other most serious crimes committed in this war of aggression.

The time for a ceasefire is now.

I thank you.

1. North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.