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Mr. President, Thank you for convening today‘s meeting and let me also thank the three briefers for their valuable yet sobering contributions. Following the diplomatic efforts in the Normandy format aimed at finding a solution to the Ukrainian conflict, a package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements of 5 and 19 September 2014 was agreed upon on 12 February, 2015. This Council put its weight behind these agreements by adopting Resolution 2202 on 17 February.

Since then, some positive developments have taken place, including the initial exchange of prisoners and a significant reduction in the death toll. However, all illegally detained civilians must be released, including the Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko, who spent over 80 days on a hunger strike and is close to a point of no return. 

Serious concerns however remain regarding the verification of the withdrawal of heavy weaponry and continuing instances of ceasefire violations, including near Mariupol and Donetsk airport.

We note SMM’s assessment that attacks on government controlled towns east of Mariupol may indicate an attempt to test the eastern defences of the city. We stress that any attempts by the Russia-backed militants to seek gaining control of additional territory will be a clear breach of the Minsk agreements and will seriously undermine all efforts promoting a sustainable political solution.  

OSCE monitors continue to face severe restrictions. Russia-backed armed groups continue to deny access, including to Shyrokyne and Kruzhylivka; they also continue to harass and threaten SMM personnel. That is clearly unacceptable and a violation of the Minsk agreements and their implementation measures.

OSCE Mission hasn't been provided with the requested detailed information, including the inventory of weapons, withdrawal routes and concentrations points as per Minsk agreements. Valid questions remain regarding the claims whether the illegal militants are withdrawing their weaponry or merely regrouping under the guise.

The situation is further aggravated by the fact that OSCE border monitoring activities remain restricted to 40 m out of roughly 400 km. Russia has repeatedly blocked efforts to expand border monitoring.

Mr. President,

It is paramount that Russia should stop destabilizing the situation in eastern Ukraine and stop supporting illegal armed groups operating there. It must immediately withdraw its troops from the territory of Ukraine, put an end to the movement of mercenaries across its borders into Ukraine, and end all support to the illegal militants. Russia should also use its influence with the illegal armed groups to ensure that the cease-fire is respected and the withdrawal of the heavy weapons can be duly monitored by the OSCE. 

OSCE SMM should be provided full and unhindered access to all areas. It must be able to exercise its mandate independently, without obstructions and interference. We look forward to the early extension of the Mission’s mandate for a 12 month period. Adequate financing and resourcing for the mission must be ensured to carry out its mandate.

Mr. President,

Civilians have borne the brunt of this conflict which started a year ago with the illegal annexation of Crimea in blatant breach of the UN Charter.

The false pretext of defending the rights of Russian speakers was used to invade Crimea and promote separatism in eastern Ukraine. While fighting imagined human rights violations, Russia and the illegal militants it supports have caused dramatic real human rights violations in the regions affected by their illegal actions.

Normal life in those regions has been disrupted, leading to displacement, destruction, real humanitarian crisis and deaths. More than 6,000 people killed and over 14,000 people were injured. A million and a half were displaced. A million has resettled within the country placing a heavy burden on the authorities as well as local communities. The humanitarian crisis is most acute, aggravated by the cold winter. Russia and the illegal armed groups it supports bear full responsibility for this devastation.

We welcome the efforts of OCHA and the UN agencies and other international organisations aimed at alleviating the suffering of the people in eastern. It is imperative that all humanitarian actors should be provided unfettered access to all affected areas for prompt and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance. Humanitarian assistance should be provided in line with the international law and in full respect of Ukraine's sovereignty. Russia's "humanitarian" convoys remain a cause of concern as they are operated in violation of the accepted norms of humanitarian assistance and in breach of Ukraine’s borders and sovereignty.

Mr. President,

OHCHR reports have repeatedly documented the catastrophic breakdown of the rule of law and ongoing massive human rights violations in the militant-held areas, including abductions, arbitrary detentions, beatings, and torture and summary executions. There are also numerous instances of serious violations of IHL. After the capture of Donetsk airport, bodies of executed Ukrainian servicemen were found with their hands tied, as documented in the latest OHCHR Report. The parading and abuse of Ukrainian PoWs by the militants have been recorded on several occasions.

Attacks against journalists and media outlets continue. At least 60 cases of attacks against the media offices were registered and 78 journalists have been held by armed groups since March last year, according to the OHCHR Report, some of their whereabouts remain unknown.

Mr. President,

The latest Human rights Monitoring Mission report speaks eloquently of the disturbing human rights situation in occupied Crimea. The Tatar community, those who opposed the sham “referendum” a year ago in March, religious communities and minorities are facing threats, harassment and intimidation. Abductions and forced disappearances and false charges.

Since the annexation by the Russian Federation, the public space in Crimea has been shrinking, the fundamental freedoms of expression and assembly have been curtailed. Those holding Ukrainian passports are facing restrictions in exercising their political and civil rights, limited access to social services, tight quotas for residence permits, loss of jobs and homes.

Out of six hundred schools that offered instruction fully in Ukrainian, not a single one remains. Only twenty schools on the peninsula have separate Ukrainian classes, violating the rights of the Ukrainian community of Crimea.

Religious communities have also been affected. Priests, Imams, representatives of other religious communities are being threatened with prosecution, detained, and harassed; their prayer houses and monuments desecrated. People are forced to adopt Russian citizenship or lose their property, rights, and income.

Crimean Tatars are in an especially serious condition, as they have no other home but Crimea. Their leaders are banned from their home, evicted from the Mejlis, threatened, prosecuted and deported. Major figures like Mustafa Jemilev and Refat Chubarov have been barred from re-entering Crimea. The Deputy Chairman Akhmet Chiigoz remains in detention alongside with a number of other activists. A number of activists are still missing after being abducted as early as May last year. The son the Crimean Tatar leader Jemilev remains in detention in the Russian Federation under trumped up charges.      

Media freedom is under siege in Crimea. The broadcasting of the Ukrainian TV channels, Ukrainian internet have been discontinued. A number of journalists have been threatened; assaulted, physically attacked, investigations have been invoked against the Crimean Tatar newspapers. Tatar journalists have been detained and harassed. The offices of ATR – the only Crimean Tatar TV Channel left in Simferopol have been raided.

Mr. President,

In spite of Russia's allegations to the contrary and in spite of the extremely difficult circumstances, Ukrainian authorities are continuing the necessary reform processes. We welcome the Ukrainian President’s decree on setting up a constitutional commission, establishment of national council of reforms, creation of anti- corruption agency, and the drafting of national human rights strategy, which speaks of the Government’s commitment to human rights for all. These efforts must be wholeheartedly encouraged and supported. The Ukrainian people deserve the reforms to be put in place expeditiously and effectively. They deserve a clear break with the past of abuses, corruption, cronyism and graft. 

It is also imperative to address the issue of impunity for serious crimes and human rights violations, including in Crimea and the militant held areas, which have seen a total breakdown of accountability and pervasive lawlessness.

All perpetrators of the most serious crimes, including the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH017, must be held to account. We call for the Ukrainian authorities to do utmost in that regard. We also urge Ukraine to complete its accession to the Rome Statute. Let me take this opportunity, Mr. President, to reiterate that no amnesty should be granted for international crimes, including gross violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.

My delegation would like to express it appreciation for the engagement of the UN and its agencies as well as the OSCE in Ukraine. We are looking forward to the continued reporting including the spot reports of the OHCHR on human rights in Ukraine, including in Crimea. The UN, the OSCE and their mission need to be provided full and unhindered access to all areas in Ukraine, including Crimea.

International community, UN agencies, and humanitarian actors need to step up their efforts aimed at helping Ukraine to cope with the enormous challenges posed by this year-long foreign-sponsored conflict.

Mr. President,

The key to stabilisation of the situation in eastern Ukraine is in the implementation of the September 2014 Minsk agreements, as reaffirmed on February 12, 2015.

The people of Ukraine have heard enough talk by the international community. The time has come to walk the talk. Russia has caused and sponsored this war, and it remains in Russia's hands to put an end to this war by fully and unconditionally abiding by the Minks agreements- and using its influence on the illegal militants to do the same. Ukraine's political independence, unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable and must be respected by all members of the international community without exception.