14 June 2024
Thank you, President, and I also thank High Representative Nakamitsu for her briefing.
It has been 28 months since the Russian Federation launched its fullscale invasion of Ukraine, in violation of the UN Charter and international law.
The security situation in the Kharkiv region along with other parts of Ukraine continues to deteriorate, and Russia’s daily attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure show no sign of abating.
According to The Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights, at least 174 civilians were killed and 690 were injured in May, the highest number of civilian casualties in a single month since June 2023. This should be at the centre of our considerations.
Instead, Russian Federation is once again trying to present the narrative that Ukraine is not entitled to defend itself or receive any assistance from its allies to do so.
To exist however, Ukraine has no alternative but to defend itself.
This is a right that is enshrined in Article 51 of the UN Charter.
President
Russia’s most recent campaign against Ukraine’s power grid, which started in late March, has caused destruction and devastation. As Ukraine’s summer starts with blackouts, unease about winter also begins to set in.
Russian forces had already damaged most of Ukraine’s thermal and hydroelectric power plants. Recent power outages have raised concern about what will happen when cold weather arrives. We
must consider that the energy system in Ukraine is down by over 60 per cent of its pre-war generation capacity.
Attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure must stop immediately. Perpetrators of such crimes must be held accountable.
All parties have an obligation to protect civilians and to ensure compliance with international law, including international humanitarian law. We also highlight the principles of proportionality and distinction, as well as the special protections afforded to children, to reduce the significant risk of harm to civilians.
President,
We are deeply concerned over the mounting evidence of Russia’s procurement and use of DPRK missiles against Ukraine. This is a flagrant violation of Security Council resolutions as well as the sanctions regime.
In this connection, we deeply regret Russia’s decision to veto the mandate renewal of the 1718 Panel of experts. These actions undermine the global non-proliferation regime, as well as the UN Charter itself.
To conclude, President, the Summit on Peace in Ukraine to be held this weekend in Switzerland will serve as a stepping-stone in creating a framework for prospective negotiations that would bring all parties towards a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace for Ukraine based on the UN Charter and international law.
Until that day comes, Malta will continue to support Ukraine. We will continue to urge Russia to unconditionally, completely, and immediately withdraw all its forces and proxies as well as military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders.
A world in which might is right is a proposition which Malta could never accept.
I thank you.