29 May 2025
Thank you very much Mr. President and thank you also for convening this meeting that Slovenia called for together with other members of the Council from Europe.
Mr. President, I would like to thank the briefers USG DiCarlo and Director Doughten.
We need an end to the fighting in Ukraine. An end to thousands of civilian deaths, displacement and deportations of children. An end to destruction of schools, hospitals and houses.
With hopes for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, Slovenia continues to support the ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Meanwhile however, Ukraine and its population are enduring a relentless barrage of aerial attacks. As we just heard from USG DiCarlo, last weekend Russia launched a wave of large-scale airstrikes. Hundreds of drones and missiles raining down on Ukrainian cities in the overnight attacks.
The airstrikes on May 26 were the single largest aerial attack since the war began. I know that other colleagues have said this before, but I think it is always good to repeat: the largest attack since the war began. With no other apparent aim than to cause destruction of civilian infrastructure and instil fear and terror in the civilian population.
All of this happened just before the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry concluded that the drone attacks by Russian armed forces around Kherson last year, amount to crimes against humanity of murder.
Slovenia condemns these attacks in the strongest possible terms. They represent a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. These attacks seem to represent nothing else but a big country, an aggressor, flexing its muscles over its smaller neighbour. Display of bad faith amidst of diplomatic efforts.
Mr. President,
With death and destruction on the rise, the need for diplomacy is obvious. Slovenia welcomes all contacts between Ukraine and Russia, like the Istanbul peace talks in mid-May. We welcome the agreement on the PoW exchange in this regard.
We underline however that the overall outcome is underwhelming. Russia has been claiming it wants peace for a very long time, but its actions speak otherwise – it has torpedoed all efforts towards stopping the fighting. It met Ukraine’s efforts towards a full ceasefire only with demands and conditions.
To any onlooker the situation is obvious: Ukraine is ready to silence the guns, Russia is not.
Mr. President,
We need a lasting and verifiable ceasefire that can pave the way to negotiations on enduring peace in Ukraine. With this in mind, Slovenia calls on Russia to stop hesitating and agree to a full and unconditional ceasefire.
Ukraine and entire Europe want and need peace. Not war but peace.
A peace that lasts and a peace that is just. A peace that is firmly anchored in the UN Charter and its principles. It is our duty to provide Ukraine with an opportunity to achieve it. Only this way, Ukrainians, and their country, can start to heal and hope for a better tomorrow.
I thank you, Mr. President.