Statement by the Republic of Lithuania, on behalf of Estonia, Czechia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, and Ukraine at the UNGA80 Fourth Committee agenda item “Eradicating colonialism in all its forms and manifestations”
Statement by the Republic of Lithuania, on behalf of Estonia, Czechia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, and Ukraine at the UNGA80 Fourth Committee agenda item “Eradicating colonialism in all its forms and manifestations” on Friday, 3 October 2025.
President,
At the outset, allow me to congratulate you on assuming the Presidency of this committee, please be assured of our full support and cooperation.
I will be speaking on behalf of the group of countries: Estonia, Czechia, Latvia, Moldova, Poland, Ukraine and my own country Lithuania.
We reaffirm our strong support for the UN decolonization agenda, the principles of independence, self-determination and sovereign equality of all states, and the need to address the broader legacies of colonialism.
Nevertheless, this new agenda item - “Eradicating colonialism in all its forms and manifestations”, was introduced last year through a resolution which many countries, including ours, could not support.
We did not, because one of its main sponsors, the Russian Federation, is cynically and systematically violating both the spirit and the letter of this very resolution.
We cannot accept any attempts to justify Russia’s illegal aggression against sovereign Ukraine using decolonization as a cover, also undermining the genuine efforts to address the legacy of colonialism, - a matter of great importance to the wider UN membership.
While portraying itself as a champion of decolonization, Russia fails in all aspects of this role as it continues to wage a neocolonial and imperial war of aggression against Ukraine and occupies parts of its smaller neighbors’ territories.
Russia explores its occupied lands natural and agricultural resources, abuses its populations, in grave violations of the UN Charter and international law.
Children living under Russian occupation are subjected to deportation, forced adoptions, and systematic re-education, aimed at erasing identity, culture and sense of belonging, thereby reviving some of the worst colonial practices.
These tactics are very familiar to many European countries that suffered under Soviet domination and occupation. In 50 years of illegal occupation by the Soviet Union, people of the Baltic states and other subjugated peoples suffered executions, repressions, mass deportation and forced russification.
We regret that there has never been any accountability for Soviet totalitarian crimes and that Russia continues to misrepresent and misuse these historical facts in its narratives.
Russia's neo-colonial ambitions reach beyond Ukraine or Europe. Russia, a self-styled protector of the Global South, is only interested in profiteering and control. Russia is known to practice economic exploitation, human rights abuses, and control of local decision-makers, including through paramilitary mafia-style proxies, far from its own borders.
President,
We reject Russia’s attempts to dominate, intimidate or establish a sphere of influence over its neighbors or elsewhere. Colonialism belongs to the dustbin of history.
We reiterate our determination to continue to support all credible steps to achieve full decolonization and address the legacy of the colonial era, in line with the principles and objectives of the UN Charter.
I thank you.
