As we’ve heard on Friday, Russia’s ballistic missile attack on Kryvyi Rih struck a residential area in the city, resulting in the deaths of 20 people, including nine children, the youngest of whom was just three years old.
At least 70 people were injured.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights described this as the deadliest single strike harming children since the start of the full-scale invasion.
As High Commissioner Türk said, this attack was an unimaginable horror, nine children killed, most while playing in a park, as a military weapon exploded into shrapnel above them.
We also saw Russia’s attacks this weekend on Kharkiv and Kyiv, resulting in at least 5 more civilian deaths and many more injured.
So we find ourselves here once again to condemn yet more Russian attacks that have killed and injured many Ukrainian civilians in violation of the UN Charter and in violation of Russia’s responsibilities as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
President Putin continues to stall the ceasefire proposal, dragging his feet and insisting on maximalist conditions.
While intensifying drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Which have now resulted in the deaths of nine more innocent children.
The Kremlin’s actions reflect no desire for peace that I can detect.
They are the actions of a government that remains hell-bent on destroying Ukraine; a government that disdains mediation efforts, and holds cheap the lives of civilians.
Under US leadership, a ceasefire proposal is on the table.
The ball has been in Russia’s court for weeks now.
It’s time for the Kremlin to stop stalling.
It’s time they show that they are committed to peace as they claim to be.
Because President Zelenskyy has made Ukraine’s will clear.
He wants to see the war end and has agreed to a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire, subject to Russia’s agreement.
It is time for the killing to stop.
It is time for the Kremlin to end its aggression against Ukraine and to uphold its obligations under the UN Charter.
It is time for President Putin to agree to a full and immediate ceasefire, as a vital step towards negotiations to end the war for good.
So our message to the Kremlin is that we will not be deterred by your reckless and barbaric actions.
The UK will continue to stand resolutely by Ukraine to secure a just and lasting peace, in line with the principles of the UN Charter.
