Thank you, Chair.
Ukraine is entering its fifth winter of full-scale war. Once again, Russia is using darkness and cold as weapons. On Sunday this week, within hours of President Trump’s energy ceasefire initiative, Russia struck a thermal power plant in Kharkiv. Since then, Russia has hit at least six more energy facilities. These are not merely attacks on objects. They are attacks on people’s ability to heat their homes, receive medical care and get through the winter, making daily life untenable for millions of civilians.
International humanitarian law is clear. Civilians and civilian objects must be protected. The Moscow Mechanism reports have documented serious violations of these rules.Those responsible must be held to account. We have again heard it claimed in this Council that support for Ukraine is escalatory. This narrative deliberately reverses cause and effect. Responsibility for this war ests solely with thestate that chose to launch it.Helping a country defend itself is not an escalation. Changing borders by force is.
Mr Chair, Our Support Programme to Ukraine carries the name of Fridtjof Nansen. A century ago, Nansen himself organised relief for people starving in Russia. Then, hunger and cold had many causes. This winter they have one. Russia must cease its attacks on civilians and civilian objects. It must withdraw its forces completely and unconditionally from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.
Thank you.