Thank you Mr. President,
Dear Colleagues,
This is the fourth meeting of the Council on Ukraine in a matter of weeks.Every time we meet, reality on the ground confirms bit by bit what some of us have been anticipating.Russia has been saying one thing and doing its contrary.We were told that troops were retreating, they only have increased;We were told to stop hysteria since troops were in Russian territory; No longer! They are invading a neighbor, unprovoked and with pretexts, false narratives and fabricated news.Every development unfolding in the last 48 hours confirms, to us and to the whole world, that Russian worries have nothing to do with its security; that its anxieties are not linked to NATO enlargement, and that this issue is not a confrontation between Russia and the West.This is a confrontation between Russia and International Law, the UN Charter that it deliberately has chosen to ignore; a confrontation between its hegemonistic vision and a rules-based world order.Dear Colleagues, it is not about Russia’s concerns; it is all about Russia’s appetite.The Ukrainians are facing another aggression, just because they dare to exist, because they have chosen to be independent, because they have opted for democracy.Dear Colleagues,This is a dark hour not only for Ukraine but for the entire international community as we witness with trepidation the progression of a pure act of aggression carefully planned and cold-bloodedly being executed.We called and hoped for a backdown of the Russian Federation from this senseless destructive and self-destructive action.We repeat the same call for Russia to stop, to reflect, to reverse its illegal decisions, to withdraw from this senseless madness, to deescalate, not to push towards precipice. Several mechanisms are in place and various proposals have been made, including by President Zelenky whose calls remain unanswered.Diplomacy is like hope: it dies last. But for it to work, it must be seized, not ignored, as the Secretary General called here.We call on the fellow members of the Security Council to rally in support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.Russia has been warned, repeatedly, that they will be alone in this foolishness; that will be responsible for the innocent lives lost, including Russians, and for the destruction caused in the heart of Europe in 21st Century.If they choose to continue to execute their plans as everything indicates, they will bear not only the consequences of the war but also the historical blame and shame of invading a neighboring country, when its responsibility as a big country, as a Permanent Member of the Security Council, calls for it to work and help preserve peace and security, not to torpedo it.We reiterate our support to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, within its internationally recognized borders and territorial waters.In concluding, I welcome the presence of the Permanent Representative of Ukraine at this meeting.I would like to convey to him, to the Ukrainian Government and People that, at this most critical moment of their history, that they are not alone and we stand firm and in full solidarity with them, for their right to be free and chose who they want to be.Thank you!