December 20, 2024
Thank you, Under-Secretary-General Nakamitsu, for your briefing.
Colleagues, this is my last Council session with you. Allow me to be direct.
Nearly three years ago, when Russia invaded Ukraine, the Kremlin believed it could conquer another sovereign nation in violation of the UN Charter, with little resistance.
The Ukrainians, for their part, proved the Kremlin wrong, and are courageously fighting for their homeland and future, for their Ukrainian identity, for their children, for their freedom, for their lives.
The United States, as a permanent member of this Council, and along with partners from around the globe, will continue to help Ukraine defend itself from Russia’s aggression. This is because we still believe in the UN Charter, which should remain the foundation of states’ conduct.
Ukraine must prevail against Russia’s war of choice. There must be a just, sustainable peace, rooted in the UN Charter.
This document, the UN Charter, has meaning. It has helped keep the world safe from the scourge of another world war for 80 years. For 80 years, through thick and thin, this Council has worked together to uphold its principles and to oppose territorial conquest.
But today a permanent member of this Council is openly and unashamedly violating the UN Charter. Russia is violating resolutions of this Council, which it voted for – resolutions meant to keep a rogue nation from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Nearly three years ago, we sat with the Russians in this Chamber urging de-escalation, negotiations, peace talks – anything but war. The Kremlin did not listen then, because Putin does not listen to the words spoken here.
In that regard, I have to refer to another permanent member of this Council. China’s support for Russia is in clear contradiction to the principles of the UN Charter. China has said in this Council that sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected, but if China were serious about that, it would use its influence to stop Russia from violating Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Let’s look not at China’s words, but its actions.
China continues to supply Russia’s war industrial base with dual-use items, like bomb-making materials, machine parts, equipment and tools for weapons factories, technology powering drones and missiles. Russia needs these Chinese products for its attacks against Ukraine’s civilians and infrastructure. Chinese companies provide them, profit from them. By continuing to permit these exports, Beijing telegraphs tacit approval of Russia’s war. And PRC companies have even helped develop and produce long-range attack UAVs for Russia.
If China truly wants a “peaceful resolution” to Russia’s war against Ukraine, it must end its supply to Russia’s war machine, impose sanctions on Russia, call on Russia to withdraw its troops, and lead the international community as a permanent member of this Council responsible for safeguarding the principles of the UN Charter.
Instead, China is a decisive enabler of Russia’s war against Ukraine and has refused to use its influence constructively. It has given Russia political cover by repeating Russia’s false justifications for the war, and by suggesting we should ignore the UN Charter because “the situation on the ground has changed.” China has suggested we not link Russia’s aggression in Ukraine with the DPRK’s pursuit of nuclear weapons, while it is clear Russia is helping the DPRK with its nuclear ambitions in return for troops and weapons to use against Ukraine. When it comes to Russia, China has demonstrated it is not a legitimate actor for peace.
In this Council, China outlined its three principles for the war: “no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of the conflict, and no provocations.” But China stood aside as Russia violated all three principles by bringing the DPRK into the conflict. Russia has deployed nearly 12,000 DPRK troops, including elite special forces, to fight against Ukraine.
Russia has also violated multiple resolutions of this Council by importing from the DPRK more than 20,000 shipping containers of munitions, containing at least 6 million heavy artillery rounds, and well over 100 ballistic missiles. China has considerable influence with both Moscow and Pyongyang, but it has declined to use that influence to oppose Russia-DPRK military cooperation.
China has not criticized Russia for importing missiles and Shahed drones from Iran, or for testing on the people of Ukraine an experimental hypersonic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
In this Council, China has called for the protection of civilians and prisoners of war. But China has failed to condemn Russia’s forces for committing summary executions, arbitrary detentions, torture, rape, and other forms of sexual violence; forced deportations of hundreds of children; deliberate attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid and other critical infrastructure.
China did not end its support to Russia when Russia weakened global food security by blockading grain exports through the Black Sea, and by attacking grain ships, grain ports, and Ukraine’s food production.
Colleagues, Russia listens only to strength and action, something we collectively lacked when Russia invaded Crimea, and when it invaded Georgia before that. Appeasement didn’t work then, and it won’t work now. That is why the United States and our partners will continue supporting Ukraine and the UN Charter’s fundamental principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. As an international community, we must reject wars of aggression.
Look, I understand there were air strikes both ways across the Russia-Ukraine border in the past 24 hours. Regrettably, there are reports that civilians were killed on both sides. We shouldn’t be here. No civilian, Russian or Ukrainian, should be suffering. Russia started this war, and Russia can end this suffering.
This is, as I said, my last Council meeting with you. It has been an honor serve in this Council. The work we do matters. Our willingness to hold bad actors responsible matters.
I wish that I could leave you on a more positive note. If Russia isn’t held accountable, many more people will suffer in preventable wars. No leader should ever again believe they can conquer another country, and not face a united, global resistance. The world must always respond with strength to deter further aggression.
I thank you for your camaraderie and leave you with my best wishes and with hope.
I thank you.