I will now make a statement in my national capacity.
Like my colleagues, I would like to thank Under-Secretary General Jenča for his briefing.
Dear colleagues,
As we fast approach the grim milestone of 1,000 days of Russia's military aggression against Ukraine, we are reminded every day of the profound impact this war is having on the lives of civilians.
As we heard today, last month saw the highest number of civilian casualties this year. This confirms a worrying trend of recent months: the significant increase in civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure.
Switzerland condemns Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. The high number of attacks, particularly affecting communities close to and on the front line in the regions of Donetsk, Kharkiv, Odesa and Zaporizhzhia, is alarming. The consequent destruction they cause to homes, schools, hospitals and other civilian infrastructure, including energy systems, must stop.
In addition to their human toll, these actions obstruct humanitarian responses, create new waves of displacement, and pose risks for vulnerable populations, especially as winter approaches. The intensification of attacks on civilian port infrastructure and vessels also has a direct impact on global food security.
We also remain concerned about the safety and security of nuclear facilities, in particular that of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which are endangered by, among other things, the ongoing attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Switzerland continues to support the International Atomic Energy Agency in its critical work in Ukraine.
We reiterate that attacks against civilians or civilian objects are prohibited. All parties must strictly respect international humanitarian law, in particular the rules on the conduct of hostilities, and ensure the protection of the civilian population as well as respect for human rights.
We also call on all parties to guarantee the humane treatment of all prisoners of war, in full compliance with international humanitarian law. We welcome the recent exchange of 190 prisoners of war, and express the hope that further exchanges will follow.
We once again call on Russia to immediately cease all hostilities and withdraw its troops from the entire territory of Ukraine. Switzerland further reiterates its dismay at the apparent continuation and intensification of external support for Russia's military aggression, in contravention of this Council's resolutions on non-proliferation.
Excellencies,
To address the far-reaching consequences of this war, a coordinated international response is needed. We can all contribute to this. Switzerland is doing so on three levels: establishing of a peace process, reconstruction, and responding to the urgent needs of the population, including through humanitarian aid.
The “Ukraine Mine Action Conference”, jointly organized by Ukraine and Switzerland last week, is part of this commitment. As our President said: “living in peace also means being free from the fear of mines and remnants of war.” These not only pose an immediate threat to people, they also render agricultural land unusable, affecting food security not only in Ukraine, but also worldwide. We thank all the delegations who joined us in Lausanne and who are contributing to the long-term effort. With the final document of the conference, we have committed ourselves to collective action in this regard.
As a member of the Security Council, Switzerland believes that this body has a responsibility and a duty to respond to the widely shared call for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. We reaffirm our commitment to supporting peace efforts based on international law and the UN Charter, in particular the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty. Switzerland continues to support the Secretary-General in the search for a peaceful solution, and remains ready to contribute to all measures aimed at promoting peace in accordance with the UN Charter.
I thank you.