Last week, this Assembly marked three years since Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, in flagrant violation of the UN Charter.
This Assembly voted decisively in support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and of the UN Charter, based on the facts – this was an invasion of a sovereign country by its neighbour.
It was a war of choice.
As my Prime Minister has made clear, the UK continues to support peace in Ukraine.
Our approach is based on four principles.
First, to support Ukraine’s legitimate right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
Second, any lasting peace must guarantee the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and Ukraine must be at the negotiating table.
Third, and fourth, when a peace deal is reached, as a European neighbour, we will continue to support Ukraine’s defence and deterrence capability.
And, we are ready to develop a coalition of the willing to defend a peace deal in Ukraine.
For peace to be sustainable, it must be strong and just and deter further Russian aggression against its neighbours.
This is why the UK, along with other Security Council Members, proposed amendments that would bring the Security Council resolution in line with the resolutions of the General Assembly, which had been adopted just hours beforehand.
These amendments sought to acknowledge Russia as the perpetrator of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine;
To reaffirm our commitment to the territorial integrity of Ukraine;
And to ensure that peace in Ukraine would be in line with the UN Charter.
In order to stop us, Russia exercised its veto.
In doing so, it flouted the voice of the General Assembly.
It vetoed respect for the UN Charter and for the sovereignty of a neighbour.
And all the while, Russia has continued its campaign of aggression against Ukraine, including with this week’s drone attacks on civilian buildings in Kharkiv.
We should judge Putin by his actions. And these are not the actions of a peacemaker.
As we sit here today, discussing Russia’s use of the veto on amendments regarding its own violations of the UN Charter, let us remember one thing:
If Putin wanted peace, he could have it tomorrow.
All Russia need do is cease its aggression and withdraw its forces from all of Ukraine.
