Putin’s latest announcement for a temporary ceasefire rings hollow while Russia's brutality continues: UK statement at the UN Security Council
Statement by Lord Collins of Highbury, Minister for Africa and the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine.
Since Russia’s invasion over three years ago, this Council has met many times to discuss the death, destruction and misery Russia unleashed on Ukrainians.
It has displaced over three and a half million people within the country, and almost seven million have sought refuge abroad leaving over a third of the population in dire need of humanitarian help.
And its consequences have been felt far beyond Ukraine too, sending food and energy prices soaring which has hit the most vulnerable around the world the hardest.
We welcome the US’s efforts to end this war, yet it is impossible not to reflect on the sheer scale of the crisis – including the shocking attack on Kryvyi Rih in which 20 people were killed earlier this month.
Nine children lost their lives that day, and the UN reported that this was the largest number of children killed in a single strike since the start of the invasion.
Civilian casualties have increased by 50% since February and over 10,000 missiles and drones have been fired into Ukraine since the start of the war.
Such brutality has, sadly, continued – from the revolting strike in Sumy on Palm Sunday to the missiles raining upon Kharkiv and Kyiv, we do not need more evidence to prove that Putin is not serious about peace.
Putin’s latest announcement for a temporary ceasefire, yet again, rings hollow.
We need only look to the 30-hour pause in fighting over Easter as an example, during which there was no indication that a ceasefire on the frontline was observed.
President, I think we can all see through this pretence.
Russia must declare a ceasefire now.
Not in a day, not in a week. Ukraine stands ready to go the whole way – a durable and full ceasefire – right now.
So why wait? Why only for 72 hours?
If Putin were truly serious, he would agree today to an immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire, just as Ukraine has done – not simply announce a short pause from May 8th.
But Putin chooses not to.
Compare that to Ukraine, which agreed to the US ceasefire proposal over 40 days ago.
Make no mistake – the United Kingdom’s commitment to peace is clear.
As is the United Kingdom’s commitment to stand by Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.
Together, with our allies and partners, we must continue to work with Ukraine and speak up with one voice in Ukraine’s support.
Because that remains the best way of achieving a just and sustainable end to Putin’s selfish war.