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Statement by Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on the occasion of the Security Council meeting on Ukraine on Wednesday, 24 August 2022.

Mister President,

I am speaking on behalf of the three Baltic States – Latvia, Lithuania and my own country, Estonia. We thank the Secretary-General and Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo for their presentations and welcome the participation of President Zelenskyy in the briefing today.

Six months ago, after months of Russian troop build-ups on the Ukrainian border, after President Zelenskyy made a last-ditch plea to Russian citizens that the people of Ukraine want peace, and at the same moment the Security Council had gathered in this Chamber to discuss and urge the Russian Federation to refrain from threats and further aggression against Ukraine, the Russian Federation launched an unprovoked, unjustified and unlawful attack on Ukraine.

Six months have passed from that day, but Russia, aided by Belarus, continues this senseless war of aggression in blatant violation of international law – by violating Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, by terrorizing and committing atrocities against civilians, by bringing the world to the spike of food insecurity and on the verge of nuclear catastrophe. These are the results of Russia’s behavior and choices, and no-one else’s. Russia started this war and Russia must end it.

We, therefore, urge again Russia to immediately and unconditionally withdraw all of its troops from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders and implement with immediate effect the provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice, as well as comply with UN GA resolutions of 2 and 24 March 2022.

This call is especially imperative in light of the concerning situation with the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant that has been occupied by the Russian military since March. Shelling and mining the NPP is utterly irresponsible and we call on Russia to stop these dangerous provocations. In order to ensure safety and security, and safeguards implementation of the power plant, the full control of the Zaporizhzhia facility must be returned to Ukraine. We also support facilitating access to the IAEA mission to the Zaporizhzhya NPP in a manner that respects Ukrainian sovereignty.

Mr President,

Russian forces have been committing unimaginable barbarities against Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. Bucha and Irpin, Kramatorsk and Mariupol bring echoes of the worst crimes of the past century. We condemn in the strongest terms the reported massacres, torture and sexual violence, including rape, used against civilians. These and other crimes are being perpetrated by the Russian troops who together with those giving orders shall be held accountable under international and national law. Putin and his administration must be held accountable for the crimes of aggression that they have committed in Ukraine.

It is crucial that evidence of crimes committed in Ukraine continues to be gathered in a manner that will hold up in independent, impartial judicial institutions. We underline the importance of continued UN monitoring, documenting and reporting on violations against civilians through its established mechanisms. In this regard, we also support and welcome the Secretary-General’s decision to establish a Fact-Finding Mission with regard to the attack against Olenivka detention facility on 29 July. All prisoners of war are protected under international humanitarian law and those responsible for their killings must be brought to justice. We share the concerns of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human rights regarding the reports that Russia is planning to hold a “show trial” in Mariupol for Ukrainian POWs. Such actions are prohibited by international humanitarian law and would amount to a war crime.

Mr President,

The Russian aggression has been undermining the global food security and development of countless nations around the world by driving up the cost of energy, fertilizers and staple foods, with the most vulnerable hit hardest. We welcome the agreement reached in Istanbul on 22 July to unblock Ukraine’s Black Sea grain export and are happy to see that by today 689,649 tons of grain and other food products are on the way to markets around the world from Ukraine. We hope that Russia’s adherence to the deal continues. We also note that sanctions do not prohibit buying Russia’s food and fertilizers. Russia can export these products and countries can buy them.

Let’s keep reminding ourselves about causes and effects. The Russian aggression and presence of its troops on the sovereign territory of Ukraine is the cause of this senseless war. All the rest are effects, including the food and energy crises around the world.

Mr President,

The world must ensure that armed aggression is neither awarded nor forgotten. This is not just Ukraine’s war but impacts us all. By giving an aggressor a free pass, we all become accomplices in disregarding the UN Charter and international law.

We call on the international community to make joint efforts to force the aggressor to end the war of aggression in Ukraine as soon as possible.

As Ukraine celebrates today its Independence Day, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania stand in full solidarity with Ukrainian people who have shown immeasurable courage and resilience over the past six months.

I thank you.