Madam President,
I thank Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča for his briefing.
We condemn the recent Russian attacks on various regions in Ukraine. We are alarmed by the numerous civilian casualties, including children, and the considerable damage inflicted on civilian infrastructure, particularly in Kharkiv, Odesa and Zaporizhzhia.
As winter approaches, nearly 150,000 families, as well as hospitals, schools and businesses, are without heating in the Dnipro and Ivano-Frankivsk regions.
Switzerland, having condemned Russia's military aggression against Ukraine – launched over 1,000 days ago in flagrant violation of the UN Charter - is particularly concerned by the following issues:
Firstly, we note a significant increase in the number of civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. We recall that attacks against civilians or civilian objects are prohibited. All parties must strictly respect international humanitarian law, in particular the rules governing the conduct of hostilities, and ensure the protection of the civilian population and respect for human rights.
Secondly, we remain concerned that nuclear safety and security conditions remain precarious, particularly at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. All Ukrainian nuclear facilities are endangered by ongoing attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Switzerland supports the International Atomic Energy Agency in its vital work, as reiterated multiple times by its Director General, and particularly the five principles for the protection of the ZNPP.
Finally, we are dismayed by the deleterious effect that Russian military aggression is having on the entire multilateral architecture of disarmament and arms control. We condemn Russia's repeated threats to use nuclear weapons, and regret reports of an even longer-range ballistic missile attack against Ukraine. These developments illustrate the negative effects of developments over the last decade, particularly in the context of the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the suspension of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. Increasingly substantiated reports suggest that troops from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are not only deployed in Russia, but actively engaged in combat. This intensification of external support for Russian military aggression would also represent a serious violation of this Council's resolutions on non-proliferation. Adding to this, the recent report from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons confirms the use of a riot-control agent in Ukraine as a method of warfare, in violation of the Convention on Chemical Weapons.
Switzerland remains extremely concerned by Russia's repeated use of anti-personnel mines. It also expresses its deep concern at the recent announcement of the transfer of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine. This unprecedented development in the history of the Ottawa Convention risks having repercussions that go beyond this context. We call on all States to respect their obligations under international law, including those under the Ottawa Convention.
Madam President,
Switzerland calls on all states to respect their legal obligations, and once again urges Russia to immediately cease all hostilities and withdraw its troops from the entirety of Ukrainian territory.
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.