Thank you, President.
I have the honor to speak on behalf of the five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden – and my own country, Norway.
We thank the DPPA, OCHA and ITF Enhancing Human Security for their briefings.
President,
Ukraine is facing what could be its toughest winter since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. In the midst of discussions on peace, Russia continues its relentless bombing
campaign against civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Every week, residential areas are targeted by missiles and drones – often at night when
people are asleep. Attacks on Ukraine’s energy system are causing blackouts and heating disruptions, putting millions of people at risk as temperatures drop. The strategy is plain for everyone to see: To break the Ukrainian people’s resilience by
depriving people of basic services and spreading terror.
The position of the UN, save for this Council, has been unequivocally clear: Russia’s war of aggression violates Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, a clear breach of the UN Charter.
President,
As we are approaching the 5th year of Russia’s full-scale invasion, we have yet to see any genuine intention from Russia to end its war. Calls for a ceasefire have been met with indifference. Instead, we witness how Russia escalates its rhetoric and presents
unacceptable demands that run against the core of the UN Charter.
It bears constant reminding that Russia started this war and can end it today. No matter how much Russia tries to spin the narrative, this fact is unchangeable. Russia’s actions stand in stark contrast to Ukraine’s constructive approach. No one wants peace more than Ukraine.
President,
The Nordic countries support a just and lasting peace, in accordance with international
law. A peace that lays the foundation for security, stability, reconstruction and prosperity and prevents new acts of aggression. A peace that ensures Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence, as enshrined in the UN Charter.
The way this war is settled matters to all of us. If international law is pushed aside and
Russian aggression is rewarded, the implications could be grave. It would signal that
changing borders by use of force pays off. That brutality trumps norms and rules.
This is why we will continue to insist on peace that allows Ukraine to prosper as a free and independent nation.
President,
Let me conclude by highlighting the human dimension of Russia’s war. Last week, the
General Assembly adopted a resolution demanding Russia to return Ukrainian children
that have been forcibly transferred or deported. The Nordic countries were proud to co-sponsor this resolution.
There are no justifications for abducting children. It violates the rights of the most
vulnerable and reminds us of the horrors of Russia’s war.
We take this opportunity to once again demand that Russia return the children to their
families, where they belong.
Thank you.