20 June 2025
Thank you Madam President for giving me the floor and thank you for convening this meeting.
I wish to add my thanks to ASG Jenča and Director Wosornu for their briefings.
Madam President,
Since our last meeting we have been witnessing a relentless barrage of drones and missiles on Ukrainian cities. Night after night, civilians throughout the country are suffering the consequences of the ongoing aggression. In less than six months, Russia used hundreds of missiles and over 20,000 drones.
These attacks culminated this week with Russia’s aerial strikes on Kyiv. The massive aerial attack hit densely populated neighbourhoods and critical civilian infrastructure. With over 100 civilians killed or injured, it was the deadliest attack on the capital of Ukraine in almost a year.
Madam President,
Throughout the last year this war has been escalating at an accelerated pace. As Director Wosornu said in her briefing, nearly 50 percent more civilians have been killed or injured in the first five months of this year than during the same period in 2024. To illustrate – in the attack on Kyiv last Tuesday, Russia used almost 500 munitions in a single night. Last year, Russia used approximately the same amount throughout the whole month of June.
These attacks are an obvious violation of international humanitarian law. And Slovenia condemns them in the strongest possible terms.
All of this is occurring while diplomatic efforts to ensure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine are underway.
These attacks are not only a display of bad faith in midst of negotiations. They are an expression of unwillingness to compromise. An attempt to intimidate until maximalist terms are accepted. Terms that would tear the very fabric of the UN Charter.
Madam President,
While we welcome all diplomatic efforts towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, the results of contacts between Ukraine and Russia to date are underwhelming to say the least. Russia keeps meeting Ukraine’s efforts towards a ceasefire with missiles and drones.
We are confident that today, in this chamber, we will once again hear a nearly united voice – a voice unwavering in its call for a ceasefire. A voice that says – the time is now.
We are waiting for just one more to join.
I thank you, Madam President.