Remarks by Ting Wu, Deputy Political Counselor, at a UN Security Council Briefing on Ukraine

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January 16, 2024

Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo for your remarks.

Colleagues, nearly three years ago, Russia appalled the world with its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Putin wanted to topple Ukraine’s democratically elected government. Since then, Russia has violated the UN Charter, multiple resolutions of this Council, the Geneva Conventions, humanitarian international law, and Putin has shown the world he has no respect for obligations under international law.

In more than 1000 days of this reckless war of choice, Putin has failed to achieve any of his goals in Ukraine. Instead, he has left Russia’s power and influence greatly diminished, 700,000 Russian soldiers dead or injured, and more than one million total casualties.

Meanwhile, Ukraine remains strong and defiant as a free and sovereign democracy. The United States and our many global partners continue to stand with Ukraine and with Ukraine’s troops, who have fought with resilience and strength.

With global help, Ukraine has held off the second-largest military in the world, while Russia suffers 1500 casualties per day. Ukraine has fought brilliantly even as China, the second largest economy in the world, has backed Putin; as Iran, the biggest state sponsor of terror, has armed Russia with drones and missiles; and as North Korea, the most notorious nuclear-armed rogue state in the world, has supplied Russia with some 11,000 troops, missiles, and countless crates of ammunition and munitions.

Ukraine has defied all of them because they fight for their freedom, their country, their families, and their identity.

Mr. President, as we discuss how to achieve peace, we must remember why Ukraine fights back. Russia has killed more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians and wounded another 27,000. Russia’s forces have systematically attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, weaponizing winter by leaving thousands of households without power. Russia’s forces have abducted Ukrainian children and tried to erase their identities.

So long as Russia’s forces occupy Ukraine and threaten Ukrainian families, Ukrainians will not have peace. And yet, China insists Ukrainians should accept the reality of their occupation, for the sake of peace.

Colleagues, for the sake of peace, we allowed Russia to hold 20 percent of Georgia. For the sake of peace, we allowed Russia to occupy Crimea. And now, for the sake of peace, some countries call on Ukraine to meet Russia halfway. We all want peace. But an outcome that rewards Putin for Russia’s aggression, is no peace at all. Appeasement will lead to more war.

We will only have peace in Ukraine when Russia leaves Ukraine, and when the UN Charter and international law are respected and protected. We will have peace when Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are guaranteed. We will have peace when Ukrainian families feel safe and don’t need to fight.

For that reason, as the victim of Russia’s aggression, Ukraine must play a leading role in determining its future. Nothing about Ukraine, without Ukraine. This principle is paramount.

While Russia persists in Ukraine, the United States and our partners will use all the tools at our disposal to thwart Putin’s imperialist ambitions, and we will help Ukraine defend itself until we achieve a comprehensive, just, and sustainable peace for Ukraine.

We urge all Member States to continue to condemn Russia’s violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and to demand Russia withdraw its forces from Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders.

Regrettably, one country on this Council has never condemned Russia’s invasion or its violations of Security Council Resolutions and the UN Charter. Instead, it has given Putin its support.

Beijing claims it has strict export controls in place for its dual-use exports. And yet, China continues to support Russia’s defense industrial base with those exports. China’s exports directly fuel Russia’s war against Ukraine and its attacks against civilian infrastructure. This support makes China the decisive enabler of Russia’s war.

On the other hand, Group of 7 leaders have acted in lock step to immobilize Russian assets and the United States further sanctioned some of Russia’s largest banks. Europe cut its reliance on Russian gas. Consequently, Russia’s inflation is at 9 percent, interest rates are at 21 percent, Russia has burned through much of its reserve funds, one million Russians have fled Russia, and the Kremlin can no longer produce enough material to replenish its war capabilities. If China had worked with global leaders and cut off Russia’s ability to make war, instead of fueling it, this war would be over.

But the United States will continue to stand with the more than 100 countries who do condemn Putin’s aggression and to call on Putin to get out of Ukraine.

I thank you, Mr. President.

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