September 13, 2024
Madam President,
I would like to thank Ms. Nakamitsu for her briefing.
For the nineteenth time, Russia is convening this Council to debate the role of Western arms deliveries to Ukraine.
No one will any longer be surprised to see Russia distort reality, attempting to pass off a state under attack, Ukraine, and the countries that support it in exercising its right to self-defense, as responsible for extending this war.
No one will be fooled by this misrepresentation.
Russia alone decided on this war, by invading Ukraine. On March 16, 2022, the International Court of Justice ordered Russia to immediately suspend its military operations. The United Nations General Assembly has repeatedly by a vast majority condemned this aggression. Russia can choose everyday to stop this aggression, without prejudice to its own security.
If the war continues, and the human toll continues to increase, it will be because Russia is failing to hear these appeals. Just two days ago, it continued its campaign of massive strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, seeking to undermine the morale of the Ukrainian people. On August 26 and 27, it carried out one of the largest attacks since the start of the war.
Since we are here to discuss arms deliveries, let us recall that Russia does not hesitate to flout the foundations of the international non-proliferation regime, which is the guarantor of our collective security, in order to obtain its arms supplies.
It obtains arms, ballistic missiles and munitions from North Korea, in flagrant violation of resolutions adopted unanimously by the Security Council. North Korean-produced ballistic missiles have been used to strike Ukraine, as in Kharkiv last January, and yet again very recently in July and August, in documented cases. In return for this support, Russia is stepping up its military cooperation with North Korea, which could enable Pyongyang to further develop its ballistic missile and weapons of mass destruction programs, with serious repercussions for regional and international stability.
Since the beginning of the war, Russia had also chosen to acquire armed drones from Iran, in violation of Resolution 2231. Iran’s military support has now escalated further, with the export of ballistic missiles to Russia. France strongly condemns these transfers, which pose a direct threat to European security, and will enable Russia to continue its campaign of destructive strikes in Ukraine as winter draws near. We call upon Iran to put an immediate end to these transfers. In line with our repeated warnings to the Iranian authorities, we are working with our partners to provide a firm response to these transfers, through the designation of individuals and entities involved in Iran’s ballistic missile program and in the transfer of ballistic missiles and other weapons to Russia.
France urges all states to refrain from supplying Russia with dual-use materials and components, which would fuel its war machine.
Madam President,
France stands by Ukraine and will continue, for as long as necessary, to support it in all areas to enable it to defend its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. We will continue to seek a solution to the conflict in line with the fundamental principles of the Charter, which is the only possible basis for a just and lasting peace.
Thank you.