Statement by Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the United Nations Samuel Žbogar at UNSC meeting on the maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine

Thank you very much Mr. President and as others, I want to congratulate you for assuming the presidency of the Council for August and you have all of our support. I also want to thank our colleague, the Pakistani Permanent Representative and his team for so successfully steering the Council through July.

Mr. President,

I would like to thank ASG Jenča for his briefing today and his contribution to the discussion.

Let me make a few points:

First, let’s remind ourselves of some facts:

What we are witnessing in Ukraine is a nuclear power attacking and occupying a smaller neighbour.

The aggression continues for the fourth year.

Reasons for invasion keep changing and are ranging from situation of Russian minority, Ukrainian NATO aspirations, unspecified security concerns to supposedly nationalistic orientation of government and people.

As per UN Charter none, none of these reasons can be a justification for aggression.

The conflict is rapidly deteriorating. With each passing meeting, we speak of a new negative record – deadliest night, deadliest year, largest number of missiles and drones launched in a single day.

These are facts, and it is good to keep reminding ourselves of them, as with months and years fatigue settles in and pictures become blurry.

Second, the Council is often paralyzed to take meaningful action. However, civilians in armed conflicts continue to turn their eyes and hopes and expectations to the Council when horrible things are happening to them.

This applies to Ukrainians, to Gazans, to Sudanese, to Haitians, or civilians suffering in any other conflict area.

For Ukrainians, when a tragedy like the one two nights ago happens, the least they expect is for the Council to discuss, hopefully condemn and ultimately to protect them.

Third, even if we have different views on path to peace in Ukraine, we need to exchange views and arguments. In order to hopefully one day start hearing each other and finding a needle of solution in a haystack of arguments. To find a way forward and to stop suffering of civilians.

Mr. President,

Slovenia remains deeply concerned with Russia’s escalation of aggression against Ukraine. With civilian casualties on the rise for months and with more firepower being used in the overnight aerial attacks, 2025 is rapidly becoming the deadliest year of this war. Instead of engaging on a path to peace, Russian Federation is increasing its pressure on Ukrainian civilians.

The latest aerial strikes on Kyiv are an example of this escalation.

Overnight attacks with explosive weaponry in densely populated urban areas have no justification. They cannot be excused by claims of pursuing military goals. Not in Gaza and neither in Kyiv.

On the contrary, civilians who lost their lives or were injured, should have been protected. Slovenia reiterates its condemnation of these attacks, including the most recent ones.

Mr. President,

In the past months, we heard Russian officials commit to peace numerous times. Nevertheless, Russia decided to escalate. Its attacks, including the most recent ones, cast serious doubt on Russia’s willingness to walk the path towards peace in Ukraine.

Mr. President,

At the beginning of this year, the Council has called for a lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine. Fourteen of us keep calling for a ceasefire. Still, after months, tangible results are lacking. We need a decisive next step to stop the bloodshed, to stop the destruction. We need a ceasefire and we need it now.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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