I would like to start by thanking Assistant Secretary-General Joyce Msuya for the briefing today.
Colleagues, last month marked three years since President Putin launched his illegal and unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The invasion displaced over 10 million people. Today, 12.7 million remain in need of urgent humanitarian support.
The suffering caused by Russian forces is well known to this Council: war crimes, torture of civilians and prisoners of war, mass killings, the forced deportation of thousands of children, the forced cleansing and Russification of areas under their illegal control.
It is a shocking record for any state, let alone a Permanent Member of the Security Council.
In recent weeks, Russian drone and missile attacks have intensified nationwide, with daily reports of damage to residential areas and civilian infrastructure across multiple Oblasts.
According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mechanism of Ukraine, in one attack which took place on 7 March, two ballistic missiles hit a residential area in Donetsk Oblast killing 11 people and destroying homes.
Emergency responders who arrived to treat the wounded were then targeted by further strikes.
This has to stop.
The UK is clear that we want to see an end to the fighting and to the killing. We must have enduring peace in Ukraine.
Putin could bring about peace tomorrow by withdrawing his forces and ending his illegal invasion.
President, we welcome US efforts towards just and lasting peace. And we welcome President Zelenskyy’s clear commitment to peace and readiness to move quickly towards a comprehensive and lasting settlement.
In agreeing to a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire, Ukraine has shown that it is the party of peace.
Russia must now agree to this without further delay.
Ukraine’s humanitarian needs are immense, and the UK will continue to do what we can in support.
To date, we have committed £477 million in humanitarian support to Ukraine, providing its people with food, water, shelter, and medical care, alongside support to safeguard the rights, dignity, and well-being of civilians.
We repeat our call on Russia to end its brutal war, withdraw from Ukrainian territory within its internationally recognised borders.
Until that day comes, the UK will continue to work with Ukraine and our international partners to achieve a just and lasting peace, which ensures Ukraine’s future security and upholds the core principles of the United Nations Charter.
