HomeUnited NationsSecurity Council: Ukraine

Security Council: Ukraine

Note:  A complete summary of today’s Security Council meeting will be made available after its conclusion.

Briefings

ROSEMARY DICARLO, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, recalled her last briefing on the situation in Ukraine as it relates to the implementation of the Minsk agreements, on 11 February 2021.  At that time, she drew attention to the fragile security situation that prevailed despite the nominal ceasefire in place.  Today, there is widespread speculation and accusations about a potential military conflict.  “Whatever one believes about the prospect of such a confrontation, the reality is that the current situation is extremely dangerous.”

Noting that the issues underpinning the current crisis are both complex and long-standing — and touch on matters relating to the broader European security architecture — she said that, while seemingly intractable, they can and must be resolved through diplomacy.  Expressing support for such efforts, including the Secretary-General’s good offices, she noted with regret that little meaningful progress has been made in implementing the 2015 Minsk agreements.  Talks in both the Normandy Four format and the Trilateral Contact Group remain deadlocked.  Noting that the Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements remains the only Council-endorsed framework for a negotiated, peaceful settlement, she noted with concern reports of fresh ceasefire violations across the contact line over the past several hours.  “If verified, these must not be allowed to escalate further,” she said, calling all sides to exercise maximum restraint.

She commended the work of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), emphasizing that its Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine must enjoy safe and secure conditions.  Meanwhile, the Secretary-General remains fully engaged with key actors — including the Governments of the Russian Federation and Ukraine — and has stressed that there is no alternative to diplomacy.  It is incumbent on all Member States to fully respect the principles of the United Nations Charter, to settle disputes by peaceful means and to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.  Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders must be respected as called for in relevant General Assembly resolutions.

Welcoming recent statements prioritizing continued diplomatic engagement and announcing the redeployments of forces, she went on to stress that more must urgently be done to end inflammatory rhetoric and defuse tensions.  The United Nations country team in Ukraine remains fully operational and humanitarian colleagues are committed to providing assistance in line with the principles of neutrality, impartiality, humanity and independence.  It is therefore imperative that all sides allow safe and unimpeded access by humanitarian actors, and not lose sight of the needs of some 2.9 million people who require support.  Early and adequate funding of the $190 million 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan is also needed.

She went on to note that, for the war-wary people of Donetsk and Luhansk, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are only compounding suffering.  Millions who, prior to the pandemic, could still maintain family and community connectivity have been unable to travel freely across the contact line, while others experienced an abrupt loss of access to basic services and livelihoods.  The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) continues to monitor the impact of hostilities and record reports of human rights violations, and documented the lowest number of civilian casualties in 2021 since the beginning of the conflict, due in large part to widespread adherence to the ceasefire.  That trend must continue, she stressed, declaring:  “We simply cannot accept even the possibility of a new conflict in Ukraine.”

MIKKO KINNUNEN, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group, briefing via videoconference, provided a snapshot of current talks, emphasizing that addressing the Donbass issue hinges on considering the broader context in the region.  Currently, participants in the Trilateral Contact Group — OSCE, Russian Federation and Ukraine — are “too far from each other”, and work must continue.  At the same time, all elements of the Minsk agreements must be implemented, as it forms the basis of the Contact Group’s work.  Noting that it is popular to accuse participants of violating these accords, he cautioned that none of their elements have been fully implemented, and it is neither possible nor appropriate to single out one party for being responsible for this fact.  More flexible positions are needed to compromise, he said.  One of the Contact Group’s key priorities is the contact line, he said, stressing that no one will benefit from military activities in the area.  Referring to the alleged shelling in Luhansk today near the contact line, he underlined the importance of swiftly establishing facts and avoiding escalation.

Recalling that, in December 2021, Trilateral Contact Group participants had agreed to the ceasefire, leading to a month-long reduction in violence, he said this must be fully implemented.  Indeed, when there is political will, this and other elements are possible, he said, emphasizing that not enough progress has been made.  Pointing to the recent Russian Duma decision that called for recognizing the independence of areas in Donetsk and Luhansk, he said all parties must remain committed to respecting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.  Commending the recent work of the Normandy Four, OSCE discussions in Moscow and other efforts, he said such initiatives could trigger progress.  Noting that the Trilateral Contact Group has met virtually for two years, he said these virtual discussions are not ideal for productive dialogue, adding that he was working towards holding in-person talks as soon as possible.

YAŞAR HALIT ÇEVIK, Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, outlining recent developments, noted that the gradual degradation of the ceasefire agreement regrettably continued over the past year.  Impediments to the Mission’s mandated freedom of movement have also escalated, limiting its capabilities.  Mission members have at times been intimidated and monitoring tools are subjected to intense threats daily.  In Luhansk, the Mission remains deprived of its operational freedom and independence — placing its sustainability is at risk — while the contact line remains exceedingly difficult to cross, both for monitors and civilians.

Underlining the need for restraint and for all parties to abstain from inflammatory public rhetoric, he described the overall security situation along the contact line as volatile.  Ceasefire violations have been reported throughout the year, including the increased use of heavy weapons, which both sides have agreed to withdraw.  Following a December 2021 meeting at which the sides reconfirmed their determination to uphold the ceasefire regime, such incidents dropped significantly, but tensions remain high.  He also cited ceasefire violations in and near several symbolically important locations during the reporting period which put civilians at risk.

Since the beginning of 2022, he continued, the Mission has recorded on average twice as many daily ceasefire violations as it did during the same period in 2021.  Those actions also led to a rise in civilian casualties as a result of shelling and small arms fire.  Other violations — including trench extensions, the presence of heavy weapons in residential areas and the use of unmanned aerial instruments — also continued.  Regrettably, discussions in the working group on security issues have stalled over the past year.  Noting that COVID-19-related movement restrictions continue to impact the population, he said crossing points have been limited to two and there has been no progress in opening new crossings.  Access to health care has been curtailed, young people are losing out on educational opportunities and older persons missed pension payments.

Calling for the urgent opening of all crossing points and the lifting of all restrictions on both sides of the conflict line, he emphasized that the parties must press forward with the critical exchange of security guarantees.  “The [Mission’s] capacity on the ground exists, but the will to use it needs to be strengthened,” he stressed, calling for the strong and sustainable support from the international community.  He also outlined evolving events over the last 24 hours, noting that the Mission recorded some 500 explosions along the contact line in the Luhansk oblast.  While tensions now seem to be easing, he urged the sides to strictly adhere to their ceasefire commitments and immediately de‑escalate.  Noting that the Mission was able to visit affected parts of the Ukraine Government-controlled areas and continues to monitor the impact on civilians, he said it will report to the international community as soon as possible.

TETIANA MONTIAN, a civil society activist from Ukraine, briefing via videoconference, said all briefers who have just spoken must be aware that Kyiv has no intention of implementing the Minsk agreements in their entirety.  Instead, Ukraine continues to receive weapons and assistance while the people in Donbass are not represented in politics and are being criminally prosecuted.  Pointing to accusations of high treason made against certain individuals, she shared observations stemming from a recent visit to Donbass, where the people’s only fault is that they are against the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and joining Europe.  She asked if the same people who closed all opposition channels are going to hold conversations with those in Donetsk and Luhansk, also wondering why it would be a problem to provide a special status to the area.  Any different thinking in Ukraine is being squashed, and people have no right to form political parties or to speak in their country.  Talks with people in Donetsk and Luhansk will “never, ever, ever” happen, she said, adding that Ukraine is a colony of the West, which has “plunged my country into slavery”.

The real goal of the West — despite all the peace-loving speeches, including those heard today — is for the Russian Federation to be lured into a war, she said.  If this was not the case, the puppet Government in Kyiv would have implemented the Minsk agreements.  “The West wants a war with Russia and wants it to take place on the territory of Ukraine,” she stressed.  “We are not a chessboard, but the people of Ukraine, and we are not pawns in a political game.  You will lead the events to a war.”  Indeed, OSCE has been blind to shelling and other violence, destruction and death, she said, recalling her visit along the contact line, where civilians — including women, children and elderly persons — have been and are being killed.  Europe is looking duplicitously at the suffering of the 100,000 people living along the contact line, she said, asking the Council to compel the “marionettes in Kyiv” to implement the existing agreements.

Statements

SERGEY VERSHININ, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and Council President for February, speaking in his national capacity, said today’s meeting marks seven years since the Council adopted resolution 2202 (2015), unanimously endorsing the Minsk agreements.  The main goal of the meeting is to reaffirm that no alternative exists to their implementation.  However, seven years on, it remains clear that implementing that package is in no way part of Ukraine’s plans.  Noting that such a break is now openly stated by many Ukrainian officials, he added that no pressure is being exerted by Western Governments to implement these agreements.  In that vein, he outlined recent political developments, including statements made by several Ukrainian senior officials describing the Minsk agreements as running counter to that country’s national interests and having been signed “at the barrel of a gun”.

He said it is impossible for Moscow to be sidestepping its obligations under the Minsk agreements because there is no mention of the Russian Federation in that text.  Meanwhile, Kyiv’s obligations are ignored as it continues to stubbornly avoid direct negotiations, fails to restore economic links between the two countries and refuses to provide for the special status of certain regions, as mandated by the agreements.  Instead, it places blame on the Russian Federation through futile and baseless allegations.  Voicing concern over the “ostrich-like” position of Western colleagues who prefer not to see those obvious violations, he said they instead seek answers in the Normandy Four format, which only provides more space for Ukraine to continue its military adventures.  Recounting horrific instances of violence committed by Ukraine against civilians, he urged Council members to refrain from turning the present meeting “into a circus” by continuing to speculate about a so-called Russian invasion of Ukraine, as enough was heard about that during the United States-led meeting on 31 January.

ANTONY BLINKEN, Secretary of State of the United States, said the Minsk agreements — signed by both Ukraine and the Russian Federation — remain the main framework for resolving the conflict in eastern Ukraine, where today the most immediate threat is Moscow’s looming aggression.  “This is a moment of peril” both for the lives and safety of Ukraine’s people and for the rules-based international order, he stressed, adding that it directly affects every nation of the world.  The principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter — including that one country cannot dictate another’s choices — are under threat.  Recalling that the Russian Federation has amassed over 150,000 troops along Ukraine’s borders in recent months, he said that, while Moscow claims to be drawing down those forces, on-the-ground intelligence paints a different picture.  Indications are that an attack is imminent and may take place in the coming days.

Outlining a likely scenario for such an invasion, he said the Russian Federation would first manufacture a pretext for its attack.  “We do not know what form it will take,” he said, noting that it could be a false report of a mass grave discovery or even a fake or real chemical weapon attack.  Such a pretext would circulate through Russian Federation media outlets, spreading alarm.  Next, the Government of the Russian Federation would issue proclamations about its responsibility to respond to such actions.  Bombs could then be dropped on Ukraine and Russian tanks and soldiers could advance on various targets.

Acknowledging the specificity of those remarks, he declared:  “By sharing what we know with the world, we hope that we can influence [the] Russian Federation to abandon the path of war and choose a different path, while there is still time.”  The United States will be happy to accept any criticism about such information should the Russian Federation not invade Ukraine, as it remains strongly in favour of diplomacy.  However, it stands ready to respond decisively in the case that Moscow does act.  Against that backdrop, Washington, D.C., has proposed a meeting with the Russian Federation at the Foreign Minister level next week, aimed at resolving the matter peacefully, as well as fresh meetings of the NATO-Russia Council and the OSCE Permanent Council.  He added that Moscow can announce today — without any equivocation — that it will not invade Ukraine, and back up that statement by sending its troops back to their barracks and its diplomats to the negotiating table.

JAMES CLEVERLY, Minister of State for Europe and North America of the United Kingdom, reaffirming support for the Minsk agreements, in line with resolution 2202 (2015), underscored the responsibility of all parties to fully implement their commitments.  In this context, he condemned the action taken by the Russian State Duma to propose that the Russian President recognize the regions of Luhansk and Donetsk as independent.  This action would directly undermine the Minsk agreements and must be clearly rejected by the Russian authorities, in line with their commitments.  The United Kingdom welcomes all efforts to support the process and avoid escalation, including the role of OSCE and the Normandy format.  Recalling the context for the present situation, he said that, since 2014, when the Russian Federation instigated a conflict in Donbas, 14,000 people have died in the conflict.

Today, he said, the Ukrainian people are yet again living under threat of invasion with over 100,000 Russian troops, heavy weaponry, and military vessels amassed and exercising on their northern, eastern and southern borders, from Belarus to the Black Sea, adding:  “Let us say clearly what the world can see: Russia has deployed the forces necessary to invade Ukraine, and now it has readied them for action.”  He emphasized the need for steps to be taken towards a diplomatic resolution, calling on the Russian Federation to show up to diplomatic meetings and commit to meaningful OSCE talks, including via Chapter III of the OSCE Vienna Document, stating:  “They did not show up on Wednesday, and do not plan to show up on Friday.”  Stressing that the Russian Federation’s actions are “clearly designed to intimidate, threaten and destabilize Ukraine”, he underlined the need for the Russian Federation to give the Minsk agreements the chance to be implemented, free from coercion; for it to engage seriously with diplomacy; and for it to stand down all its troops.

MONA JUUL (Norway) expressed deep concern over the Russian Federation’s large-scale military build-up in occupied Crimea, to the north, east and south of Ukraine, and in Belarus and the Black Sea.  She described the reports of increased shelling as “most disturbing”, stressing:  “They must not be used by Russia as a pretext for any military action”.  The Russian Federation falsely seeks to portray the conflict in eastern Ukraine as internal, while, in fact, it has fuelled the conflict by providing financial and military support to the armed formations it backs.  Expressing strong concern over the Russian State Duma resolution calling for the recognition of the self-proclaimed “People’s Republics” of Donetsk and Luhansk, she warned against such a step, which would further violate Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.  All parties must uphold the Minsk agreements and engage constructively to resolve the conflict peacefully, she said, encouraging the Russian Federation to engage in the OSCE Chairmanship’s Renewed European Security Dialogue initiative.  “Through threatening posture, rhetoric and unrealistic demands, Russia is challenging European security,” she said, stressing:  “Every country has the right to freely choose its security alignment.  We cannot allow the established security architecture to be replaced by spheres of influence.”  Also expressing concern over the increasingly fragile ceasefire in Donbass from July 2020, she called on parties to seek a durable ceasefire and attend to the severe humanitarian situation after eight years of conflict.

RONALDO COSTA FILHO (Brazil) said resolution 2202 (2015) has not yet been fully implemented.  He urged all parties to fulfil the letter and the spirit of the Minsk agreements and to pursue genuine dialogue to assist diplomatic efforts to overcome the current security challenges in the region.  A comprehensive ceasefire — the first provision of the Minsk agreements — remains an essential element in this process.  Beyond that, further disengagement of forces and military equipment on the ground is required, allowing unimpeded access of humanitarian relief to people in most desperate need.  Trust among relevant parties is crucial to strengthening dialogue and achieving a sustainable solution.  In addition, negotiations on parameters to grant special status to certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions must be conducted with a sense of urgency, flexibility and spirit of compromise, while efforts to implement the Minsk agreements must observe full respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine.  The Council has the utmost responsibility to avoid and condemn any attempt of a military solution to this crisis, he said, urging parties to take the necessary measures to de-escalate tensions and play a constructive role in reaching a political settlement.

GERALDINE BYRNE NASON (Ireland), stating that Ukraine has the same fundamental right as every other sovereign and independent State to choose its own foreign policy and ensure the security and defence of its territory, added:  “That is a right we hold to be self-evident.  It is a right that Ireland struggled to obtain.”  Noting that the Russia Federation’s military build-up at Ukraine’s border continues to raise tensions, she reiterated her country’s calls for calm and diplomacy, as well as for sustained and credible moves on the ground towards de-escalation, which implies a significant withdrawal of both troops and equipment.  Welcoming the efforts of all those engaged in dialogue, including through the Normandy format and Poland, as OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, she underscored the importance of the full implementation of the Minsk agreements, and the related conflict‑resolution efforts in the Normandy format and Trilateral Contact Group.  Calling on all parties to act constructively within both formats, she expressed deep regret at the decision of the Russian State Duma to submit a call to recognize the non-government-controlled areas in the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine, as independent entities.  “This would be a clear violation of the Minsk agreements,” she stressed.  Further, she expressed concern about restrictions imposed on the Special Monitoring Mission’s freedom of movement, and the damage to its equipment, as well as regretted the Russian Federation’s decision to refuse an extension to the mandate of the Border Observation Mission to monitor the border crossings.

Source

Stay Connected
255FansLike
473FollowersFollow
Must Read
Related News