Thank you, Mister President,
And I thank the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Ms Nakamitsu, for her briefing. I have also taken note of Mr. Daniel Kovalik's remarks.
Mister President,
In these times of heightened tension, it is essential to return to the fundamental principles that unite us. As UN member states, we are bound by the common principles and values enshrined in the UN Charter.
We are all bound by the primary and essential purpose of this document: to maintain international peace and security. This entails the duty to respect the sovereign equality of all states, to the peaceful settlements of international disputes, and to refrain from the threat or use of force.
These principles cannot be compromised.
Yet Russia's military aggression against Ukraine is a flagrant violation of international law, including the UN Charter. To achieve a peaceful solution, we renew our appeal to Russia to immediately de-escalate the situation, cease all hostilities and withdraw its troops from Ukrainian territory. The United Nations Charter commits us all to respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States. We also recall that Ukraine has the right to ensure its security and defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty.
As a result of the ongoing devastating attacks on Ukraine, the number of civilian casualties continues to rise. We urge all parties to respect international humanitarian law and human rights unconditionally. Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected.
With regard to arms transfers, we reaffirm the need to comply with the relevant multilateral conventions and instruments. This includes the relevant Security Council resolutions in this area.
Mister President,
At the Ukraine Recovery Conference held in Berlin this week, Switzerland recalled that we had dared to speak of rebuilding just a few months after the start of the military aggression in 2022. Today, we must act and have the courage to build peace.
As we speak, final preparations are underway for the first Summit on Peace in Ukraine, to be held in Switzerland tomorrow and the day after. Nearly 100 delegations are attending this summit with the aim of developing a common understanding of a possible path towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, based on the Charter.
We sincerely hope that this meeting will inspire a framework for a future peace process, and enable us to move forward on the path to ending this terrible war.
The organization of the summit by Switzerland is part of our ongoing commitment to contribute to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. It is a contribution to the preparation of a framework for possible future peace talks involving both parties – because I think we all agree that the dangers described can only be prevented through dialogue.
We welcome the commitment of everyone and all the initiatives that are working to achieve this goal and to promote peace based on the principles of the UN Charter. We must combine our strengths, our ideas and our worldviews to this end.
Ultimately, what unites us is our duty to maintain international peace and security.
I thank you.