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Statement by the Republic of Lithuania on behalf of the Baltic States – Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania at the UN Security Council Briefing Maintenance of Peace and Security of Ukraine on Friday, 20 June 2025, New York.

President,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the three Baltic States – Estonia, Latvia, and my own country, Lithuania. We align ourselves with the Statement of the European Union.

I thank the Guyana Presidency for calling this meeting and appreciate the information provided by the briefers. We reiterate our full support to the UN humanitarian agencies and volunteers assisting Ukraine. The Baltic States are active participants in the UN regional refugee response and contributors to the Humanitarian needs and response plan.

We strongly condemn Russia’s brutal attack on Kyiv this Tuesday which killed at least 23 and injured over 134 civilians, including children, marking one of the deadliest strikes in nearly a year, as documented by the UN Human Rights team. Attacks targeting civilian infrastructure are direct violations of international humanitarian law.

This attack is in a broader pattern of deliberately cynical terrorist campaigns by Russia against Ukrainian civilians and critical infrastructure – campaigns that have recently intensified, with Ukraine enduring daily barrages of Russian missile and drone strikes. Day after day Russia’s military, armed by Belarus, DPRK and Iran, kill and maim peaceful civilians across Ukraine. Russia’s war is further enabled by state-profiteers which supply Russia dual-use technologies and maintain its so-called shadow fleet of oil tankers.

We continue to urge China, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council with a particular responsibility to upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, to exercise its influence to end Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and increase pressure to force Russia to peace in Ukraine by agreeing with the ceasefire.

Let me remind that today marks 101 days since Ukraine agreed with a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire. Meanwhile, Russia is spreading disinformation about its readiness to seek peace, aiming at buying time and continuing its aggression. Russia rejects even a basic 30-day ceasefire, which must be a precondition for any future peace negotiations on the conclusion of a just and lasting peace agreement, proving once again that Russia does not want peace.

Our response must be resolute – pressure on Russia and maximized support to Ukraine. Peace cannot be negotiated while missiles and drones rain down on the Ukrainian people. Moreover, Russia disseminates ever changing ridiculous narratives about the causes of war. Yet we know that Russia attacked, invaded, occupied territories of Ukraine unprovoked in the tradition of its longstanding imperialistic policies, which Russia prefers to accuse others of.  

President,

The Baltic States will continue speaking against Russia’s propaganda at the UN. We will also do our outmost to bring a conclusive and irreversible end to Russia’s aggression. There is no justification for military invasion of another country. Ukraine has an undeniable right to defend itself and we will do everything in our power to assist Ukraine.

Accountability is not optional. We will also hold Russia and its accomplices accountable for their actions. Impunity only breeds future generations of war criminals. The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine has concluded that Russia has committed crimes against humanity in Ukraine. We therefore demand full accountability for all crimes perpetrated by Russia in Ukraine. The work done by the Register of Damage, as well as the European Court of Human Rights, will be crucial for achieving full accountability and ensuring justice for victims of Russia’s brutal war.

While war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide are prosecuted by the International Criminal Court, the crime of aggression can only be prosecuted by the Special Tribunal, which has our strong support.

The Baltic states express their unwavering support to Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. We call for increased joint international pressure to force Russia into peace in Ukraine.

Russia must immediately stop murdering innocent civilians, withdraw all its armed forces and military equipment from the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine in full compliance with the international law, including the UN Charter, and cease its aggression once and for all.

I thank you.