17 February 2025
Thank you, Mr. President,
I extend my appreciation to Assistant Secretary General Jenca for his briefing. I also welcome the participation of Ukraine in today’s meeting.
Denmark relishes any opportunity to address the unjust war in Ukraine and the suffering of the Ukrainian people.
However, today’s meeting is just another attempt to deflect reality and justify Russia’s illegal and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine. This war remains a blatant violation of international law, including the UN Charter.
Denmark – along with other members of this Council – supported the Minsk process and Normandy format. These negotiations were launched in good faith to maintain peace while preserving Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
We all know who blatantly ignored the commitments under these Agreements and effectively killed the Minsk-process, President Putin himself proudly declaring that the Minsk Agreements “no longer existed”.
Mr President,
This meeting is part of an ongoing disinformation campaign to try and distract us from the real objective: The subjugation of Ukraine and the denial of its sovereignty and independence.
Denmark stands by Ukraine. We are committed to its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s war of aggression.
Tragically, this illegal war of aggression has raged now for almost three years resulting in terrible human suffering and serious global consequences.
Deliberate attacks against civilian targets – including hospitals, schools, residential areas and critical infrastructure – have continued unabated. Indeed, these attacks are escalating. OCHA has briefed the Council on the dramatic 31% increase in civilian deaths in 2024 compared to 2023. Lately, we received the chilling news that the radiation shelter of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant was hit by a drone. It is another stark reminder of the reckless and very dangerous actions.
Human rights abuses both in temporarily-occupied Ukrainian territory and in Russia itself have also persisted. These include the widespread and systematic torture of prisoners of war and other civilian detainees, as well as the abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children, which constitutes a war crime. Denmark condemns these crimes in the strongest possible terms.
Mr President,
There must be accountability for Russia’s crimes in Ukraine if there is to be a just and lasting peace. Accountability for the crimes committed and for this crime of aggression.
Justice must prevail. Therefore, we welcome the ongoing work of the ICC and commend Ukraine for its ratification of the Rome Statute. We further welcome the important work towards establishing a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, hosted by the Council of Europe, but open to support from all countries.
To conclude, let us all be clear: there is only one aggressor in this illegal war. We support Ukraine in achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace. Peace in Ukraine cannot be separated from Europe’s security. There can be no lasting peace without Ukraine and without Europe. This war could stop immediately if Russia stopped attacking Ukraine and withdrew its forces. We call on Russia to do just that. To bring this senseless war to an end, once and for all.
Thank you.