Statement by the Republic of Slovenia at the briefing on the maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine

Thank you very much, Mr. President,

I would like to thank Director Doughten for her briefing and Ms. Howarth for her contribution.

Mr. President,

Let me make a couple of points on behalf of my delegation:

One. As the Resident Coordinator Denise Brown stated recently – there are no peaceful mornings in Ukraine. Since the last time we met on this file in early April, more than 1.000 drone and missile attacks were recorded across Ukraine. Cities like Kharkiv and Odesa were hit especially hard. Thousands of people have again been forced to flee as their homes are being destroyed, finding themselves in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

Aerial pounding of critical civilian infrastructure is continuing unabated, as reportedly 140 educational facilities were damaged or destroyed in attacks across the country in 2024 alone. In parallel, UNICEF has reported that the rate at which children are dying has increased by nearly 40 % in the first quarter of 2024 in comparison to the same period of last year.

Two. Russia’s use of cluster munitions. According to the latest reports, Russia has used cluster munitions in its bombardment of Odessa in late April. Using such weapons in a densely populated area is against all rules of international humanitarian law.

In one instance, sub-munitions were reportedly scattered across a kilometre and a half radius, which will pose a threat to civilian population for years to come. Slovenia, as a State Party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, condemns the use of these indiscriminate weapons in the strongest possible term.

Three. Attacks against critical energy infrastructure. In the last month, millions of Ukrainians lost power as the result of Russian barrage of Ukrainian energy infrastructure. The country’s energy sector was hit especially hard last week when three thermal power stations were damaged.

The intensity of the recent attacks against critical energy infrastructure outpaces the one from winter of 2022–23. Let me recall the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court against two Russian commanders who are alleged to be responsible for war crimes of directing attacks at civilian objects and inhumane acts, including the campaign of strikes against energy infrastructure carried out in that period. 

These attacks seek to impair Ukraine’s economy and are obviously not directed against military targets. This is a clear violation of international humanitarian law and it needs to stop now.

Mr. President,

Ukrainian civilians have suffered too long, they and the wider region need a tangible prospect for peace. We call on Russia to stop with its subversive actions, and give peace a chance.

I thank you.

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