Madame President,
I have the honor to address the Council today on behalf of the Nordic countries: Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and my own country, Finland.
We thank the presidency for the opportunity to address the Council, and extend our appreciation to Assistant Secretary General Jenča for his briefing.
It has been almost one thousand harrowing days since Russia brought the horrors of war back to Europe with its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and ten years since its illegal annexation of Crimea. This blatant violation of the UN Charter has resulted in the largest displacement of people in Europe since World War II, with close to 7 million refugees in the continent and beyond, and 3,7 million people displaced inside Ukraine. Russia wages a reckless war against civilian population and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. The UN estimates nearly 38 000 civilian casualties. The military casualties affect entire generations of Ukrainians. Russia’s massive attacks against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have further exacerbated humanitarian needs, and Russia’s activities around Zaporizhzhia Power Plant have raised the risk of a nuclear incident.
Ukraine has every right to defend its independence and sovereignty against foreign aggression. This inherent right of all nations is enshrined in the UN Charter.
Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine concerns us all. People far from the battlefields – all across the globe - feel its effects in food, fuel and energy prices. In the last few weeks, Russia has intensified its attacks on civilian port infrastructure and civilian vessels in the Black Sea corridor.
Yet above all, we must all ask ourselves the following. What is left of our respect for the UN Charter if we let borders be redrawn by force? If there is no accountability for ruthless aggression and grave violations of the international law? By supporting Ukraine, we are defending the international law, including the UN Charter. We cannot let grave violations of it go unchecked – not in Ukraine, not anywhere in the world. It is in the direct interest of all of us.
The Nordics reiterate their support for Ukraine’s Peace Formula as the basis for a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace. Eventual peace must be firmly rooted in the UN Charter. All nations big and small are invited to contribute to efforts that can lead to a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace. It is up to Ukraine to define when and on what basis a future peace process should be conducted. The Nordic countries will support Ukraine and the Ukrainian people for as long as it takes.