Statement by the Permanent Representative of Ukraine H.E. Mr. Sergiy Kyslytsya at the 11th emergency special session of the UN General Assembly (2 March 2022)
Distinguished delegates,
We are living through a defining moment for our generation. Our generation is the generation that was supposed by our predecessors to be saved from the scourge of war. That is why our predecessors created the United Nations. And yet today, it falls to us to save future generations.
Let me read the following text. “Our position is that whatever grievances a nation may have, however objectionable it finds the status quo, aggressive warfare is an illegal means for settling those grievances or for altering those conditions. It may be that the nation faced desperate problems, problems that would have warranted the boldest measures short of war. All other methods – persuasion, propaganda, economic competition, diplomacy – were open to an aggrieved country, but aggressive warfare was outlawed. These defendants did make aggressive war, a war in violation of treaties.
They did attack and invade their neighbors in order to effectuate a foreign policy which they knew could not be accomplished by measures short of war. And that is as far as we accuse or propose to inquire.” End of quote. Said in his opening statement to the International Military Tribunal on November 21, 1945, in the Palace of Justice at Nuremberg by Justice Robert H. Jackson, Chief of Counsel. And these words are addressed today to Mr.Putin, Mr.Shoygu, Mr.Lavrov, Mr.Volodin, Ms.Matvienko, and perhaps dozens more but certainly they are not addressed to the Russian citizens who try to preserve their dignity. For almost a week Ukraine has been fighting. Fighting under bombs and missiles. Fighting in the face of armadas of hardware and countless crowds of enemies.
They have come to Ukrainian soil not only to kill some of us. Not only to shift our course and priorities. They have come to deprive Ukraine of the very right to exist. They have come to “resolve the Ukrainian issue”, as their propagandists claimed. Just stop and think whether these words remind you of something. Yes, more than 80 years ago, another dictator tried to finally resolved the issue of another people. He failed when the world responded in a resolute and united manner. It didn't happened immediately and the delay cost dozens of millions of people. Are we ready to pay such price now? Or is it now time to demonstrate the unity of purpose and deeds?
We appreciate all manifestations of such unity and solidarity with Ukraine. I would like to express gratitude to all Member States that support Ukrainians in their battle for freedom. I would also like to thank those Member States that accepted Ukrainian refugees, mostly women and children. More than half a million have already fled from Russian missiles and shells. I will not recite all the facts of new war crimes and crimes against humanity that the Russian troops have committed since my previous statement two days ago. The list is so long that we will run out of time.
The crimes are so barbaric that it is difficult to comprehend. Facing the total resistance of the Ukrainian population Putin’s regime has proceeded to widespread use of indiscriminate weapons such as multiple rocket launchers and aerial bombs against the residential areas. Ukrainians are being killed by Russian ballistic missiles and thermobaric weapons.
Just yesterday, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zhytomyr, Mariupol, Melitopol and many other cities and towns sustained heavy shelling that killed dozens of innocents, including children. Ukraine deeply regrets that a student from India has become a victim of the shelling by the Russian armed forces in Kharkiv. We offer our deepest sympathies to India and the relatives of the victim. A Chinese citizen was also injured in another Ukrainian city because of Russia’s deadly attacks.
The Ukrainian and foreign citizens have become hostages of the Russian armed aggression against Ukraine. In Kyiv Russian murderers hit the city TV tower, killing five passes-by. One of the missiles dropped on the Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial – a sacred place of commemoration of Jews, Ukrainians, Roma and representatives of other ethnic groups, killed by Nazis during the World War II.
hat a bitter irony, when victims of Nazis are being killed for the second time by modern Nazi followers. As the President of Ukraine asked: “What was the point of repeating the slogan “Never Again” 80 years later?” It is already clear that the goal of Russia is not an occupation only, it is genocide. On 7-8 March 2022, the International Court of Justice will hold public hearings in the case concerning allegations of genocide under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Ukraine v. Russian Federation).
Also, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has decided to proceed with opening a formal investigation into the situation in Ukraine. Unprovoked escalation of Russian aggression against Ukraine gives reason to believe that crimes within the jurisdiction of the ICC continue to be committed on the territory of Ukraine. Along with the situation in Crimea and Donbas, recent events suggest that the aggressor's troops continue to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Dear colleagues,
One might consider, observing the bloodshed in Ukraine, that “it is not my war”. It is a mistake. The evil will never stop, it requires more and more space to conquer. If tolerated it advances further and further. The draft resolution is one of the building blocks to build a wall to stop it. To stop in Ukraine and not to let it go further. The wall that will protect all of you, in particular younger generations.
Distinguished delegates, By voting today, you also reconfirm your countries’ commitment to the UN Charter. After the vote I invite you, Ambassadors and Representatives, to stop by the Indonesian Lounge and to sign this little blue book. Little but of global magnitude. Every vote in favor of the Resolution and the signature of country that voted in favor will be a historical reconfirmation of the Charter.
It is very easy, Ladies and Gentlemen, to sign the Charter in the time of peace. It is the duty to sign, implement and reconfirm the Charter in the time of war. So, stop by the Indonesian Lounge, put the name of your country, if you voted it in favor. And after you sign this book, I will hand it over to the Secretary General for keeping in in his office in front of him, so at every single moment the Secretary-General will get inspiration from the overwhelming majority of nations who still trust in the UN, who still trust in the UN Charter.
There is a very fragile gentleman, a very old one. He was born in the territory that was then a part of the Kingdom of Hungary. He will celebrate his 102nd birthday in nine days. His name is Benjamin Ferencz. Benjamin Ferencz was an investigator of war crimes, a Chief Prosecutor at one of the twelve subsequent trials of Nuremberg. Later he became an advocate of the international rule of law and for the establishment of the International Criminal Court.
With the permission of the producer, I will play a couple of seconds of his words. And I want you to listen to them very carefully. [Three words: law not war. And if you can do that, every day you will save billions of dollars, which you can use to deal with legitimate complaints of all people who need medical care, students who have to pay for their tuition. All the legitimate complaints which could be solved, if we don’t spend our money to kill them instead of helping them. And that is the current system.
Now how you can do it? I will end by telling you how to do it and the principles that have guided me: one – never give up! two – never give up! three – never give up! Good luck! I wish you the best of life!] Please show respect, show respect to the principles of the UN Charter. Show respect to the Secretary-General, show respect to this gentleman, who will celebrate 102 years since his birth.
I call upon all responsible Member States to support the draft!
Thank you!