President,
Thank you for giving me the floor. And thank you to the briefers.
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden - and my own country, Norway.
Allow me to remind this Council, whose primary task is to maintain international peace and security, that the sole responsibility for the brutal war unfolding in Ukraine lies on the aggressor: Russia.
These past weeks, Russia has launched large and intensified waves of drone and missile attacks against Ukraine causing unbearable suffering.
No target is off limits for Russia — not even a maternity ward in Odesa or the UNESCO-listed Saint Sophia Cathedral.
The attacks involves both drones and ballistic missiles, and lasts for hours.
Last weekend’s attack in Kyiv, killing at least 28 civilians and affecting more than 140 residents, marks the deadliest attack against the capital in nearly a year.
This underscores the devastating trend of increasing civilian casualties.
Russia’s armed forces and those supporting them have committed acts or threats of violence for the primary purpose of spreading terror among the civilian population, in violation of international humanitarian law. This has been documented by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine.
The situation for Ukrainians living under Russian occupation is alarming.
We call for full, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access in occupied territories.
We urge Russia to comply with international humanitarian law and allow humanitarian personnel to have access to prisoners of war, including those held captive in Russia.
President,
Time and time again, Ukraine has demonstrated its desire for peace.
Peace can only be sustainable if Ukraine is at the table, and its right to decide its future is fully respected.
Ukraine has no choice but to continue to fight for its sovereignty and its very existence. To uphold its legitimate right of defending itself against Russia.
Russia, on the other hand, has a choice.
Russia could end the suffering, it could end this war – today – by withdrawing all forces from occupied territory, end all hostilities, release all prisoners and return all children unlawfully deported from Ukraine.
However, the continued attacks against civilians demonstrate that Russia’s objectives are unchanged.
Russia’s current maximalist demands of political and territorial control over Ukraine are completely unacceptable and incompatible with Ukraine’s sovereignty.
We support Ukraine’s position that the first step must be a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire.
A ceasefire is needed to prevent further loss of innocent lives.
The Nordic countries remain steadfast in their support to Ukraine.
We remain committed to strengthening Ukraine, as well as to upholding sanctions targeting Russia’s war economy.
President,
Russia’s war threatens not only European security. It also has global implications.
We urge all countries to immediately cease any direct or indirect assistance to Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine.
We urge all members of this council to act in accordance with the rules and principles of the UN Charter.
This includes respect for any state’s territorial integrity and internationally recognized borders.
Thank you.