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UN representative urges renewed diplomatic push for peace in Ukraine
Summary
An unnamed United Nations representative marked the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and called for renewed international diplomatic effort, citing lessons from the Minsk agreements and the work of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission.
An unnamed representative at the United Nations on an occasion marking three years since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine urged renewed diplomatic efforts to secure a “just, lasting, and comprehensive” peace.
The representative said the invasion, which followed the attempted annexation of Crimea and fighting in Donetsk and Luhansk beginning in February 2014, violated the UN Charter and international law. The remarks recalled the 10th anniversary of Security Council resolution 2202 and argued the anniversary was an opportunity to remember past diplomatic efforts toward de-escalation and peaceful settlement.
The speaker summarized international peacemaking efforts including the Normandy format and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) mechanisms, and praised the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) for eight years of ceasefire monitoring. “We commend the dedication of the professionals who served with the OSCE’s Special Monitoring Mission,” the representative said, adding that the mission played “a crucial role in monitoring and reporting ceasefire violations.”
The representative noted that the Minsk agreements, signed in 2014 and 2015, illustrated that cease-fire agreements or their signing alone do not guarantee a durable end to violence. The speaker said the United Nations has “remained fully committed to the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders” and that the UN had made expertise available to regional efforts “in line with Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter.”
The speech urged broad participation in any peace initiative: “The United Nations encourages dialogue among all stakeholders and welcomes all genuine efforts and initiatives with the full participation of Ukraine and the Russian Federation that would alleviate the impact of the war on civilians and de-escalate the conflict,” the representative said.
The representative recalled the secretary-general’s repeated statement that any peaceful settlement must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and cited the “pact for the future” as reaffirming member-state commitments to diplomatic dispute resolution. The speaker urged all stakeholders to “step up their efforts to end the fighting” and said the United Nations stands ready to “use our good offices and to make available all our tools and experience in support of such efforts.”
No formal action, vote, or new UN measure was announced during these remarks.
