February 24, 2025
Mr. President,
I thank Ms. DiCarlo for her statement.
For the past three years, Russia has been waging a large-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia is attacking a sovereign state, Ukraine, which in no way threatened it, and whose territory it had already illegally occupied since 2014..
It is Russia, and Russia alone, that took the decision on February 24, 2022 to violate the United Nations Charter and to go back on the principles that we set together at the end of the Second World War, in particular: the sovereignty of States, independence and territorial integrity. It is Russia that has chosen to bring war back to the European continent.
For the past three years, Russia has been pursuing its brutal, illegal and unjustifiable aggression against Ukraine, with a blatant disregard for international humanitarian law. Russia has been carrying out deliberate strikes against the civilian population. It continues to target energy infrastructures, uses sexual violence as a weapon of war. It carries out forced transfers and deportations of Ukrainian children.
Those responsible for these war crimes must be brought to justice.
For the past three years, Russia has been undermining the foundations of the international non-proliferation architecture. It is acquiring drones and ballistic missiles from Iran. It is obtaining arms, ammunition and ballistic missiles from North Korea, in violation of the resolutions of this Council. North Korean soldiers have been engaged on the Ukrainian front, in support of Russia’s war of aggression, which represents another violation of international law.
We all frequently voice our support for the International Court of Justice, let us recall that an order of the Court asked Russia as early as March 16, 2022 to halt its military operations. Russia must end its war of aggression against Ukraine. We all want peace. A comprehensive, just and lasting peace. Not an agreement imposed under duress on the victim, on the Ukrainian authorities, on the millions of Ukrainians who have been resisting Russian forces for three years.
For three years, Ukraine has been defending itself against Russian aggression, in accordance with the Charter. The courage of President Zelensky, the courage of all Ukrainians, commands admiration and obliges us. France will continue to provide Ukraine with the military and humanitarian support it needs for as long as necessary, and is ready to strengthen its support.
Ukraine, a sovereign state, must be free to choose all its alliances and its destiny. A settlement of the conflict that would be made without Ukraine would have no future. It would enshrine the principle of « might makes right » and would lay the groundwork for future wars. Nothing should be decided about Ukraine without Ukraine.
Russian aggression also represents a direct threat to the entire European continent. Europe, whose security is at stake, must participate in any negotiations concerning a settlement of the conflict. Nothing must be decided about European security without the Europeans.
There will be no peace and security anywhere in the world if aggression is rewarded.
A peace that allows the aggressor to impose its will by force cannot be a solid peace.
For peace in Ukraine to be lasting, it will have to be accompanied by robust and credible security guarantees for the Ukrainians. The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, has brought together several European and international leaders to work on the subject. We will continue to move forward in this direction, alongside all the partners keen to achieve peace and security in Europe.
To be fair, peace in Ukraine will have to respect the United Nations Charter, its principles, and therefore the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as the UN Secretary-General reiterated yesterday.
This morning, for the eighth and ninth times in three years, and twice, the United Nations General Assembly condemned the Russian aggression and called for respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. This morning, the universal United Nations General Assembly was the compass of law, morality, compassion for the victims, the sovereign equality of States, and the defense of the foundations of the international order.
This Council must take note of this and follow this example. It must reiterate its support for the Charter, and that there can only be peace with respect for the law and the will of the people. The will of the Ukrainian people must be heard.
Thank you.