November 27, 2024
Madam President,
I would like to thank Mr. Jenca for his briefing.
A few days ago, Russia said it had struck the Ukrainian region of Dnipro by using, for the first time, an intermediate-range ballistic missile. This strike was accompanied by unacceptable threats against States that support Ukraine’s right to legitimate defense.
Russia once again chooses the path of escalation in the illegal war of aggression that it has itself provoked against Ukraine.
None of the excuses alleged by Russia to try to justify this war should hide the fact that Russia has attacked Ukraine, in violation of the United Nations Charter. Russia is choosing to prolong the war, even though it could put an end to it without any kind of harm to its own security, by ceasing its military operations and withdrawing its troops from Ukrainian territory, as demanded by the International Court of Justice as early as March 2022.
Russia is choosing to flout international humanitarian law in an attempt to break the resistance of the Ukrainian people. For many months now, it has been carrying out systematic strike campaigns against Ukrainian residential areas and energy infrastructures.
Russia is also choosing to undermine the international non-proliferation architecture, by procuring drones and ballistic missiles from Iran and, in violation of Security Council resolutions which Russia itself supported, from North Korea as well. The deployment of North Korean troops in Russia is an escalation and a dangerous extension of the conflict.
There is one aggressor in this conflict, Russia, which keeps violating international law. There is one country that is being attacked, Ukraine, which has the right under the UN Charter to defend its independence and territorial integrity.
Let us be clear: Russia’s escalatory posture will not intimidate us, and we will not feed it. France stands alongside Ukraine and its people, including by providing them with the military support they need to effectively exercise their right to self-defense. Let us remember that this right includes the possibility to strike military sites in Russia, when these are used to carry out this war of aggression against Ukraine. Ukraine must be able to defend itself, and to enter into negotiations for a just and lasting peace when it so decides.
Allowing this war of aggression to achieve its goal would mean accepting an international disorder and the law of the jungle, where force prevails over law. We will remain committed to a fair and lasting peace, in accordance with the resolutions adopted by the United Nations General Assembly.
Thank you.