Statement by Representative of Slovenia to the UN Security Council Ambassador Samuel Žbogar at the meeting on the threats to international peace and security

Thank you Mr. President.

I would like to thank Assistant Secretary-General Jenča for his briefing. I also take note of the statement by Mr. Waters and I welcome the representative of Ukraine in the chamber.

Mr. President,

The Minsk Agreements were supposed to bring peace in eastern Ukraine and reintegrate separatist-controlled areas with the rest of the country. Slovenia has therefore always supported them and we have consistently encouraged both sides to fully implement the Agreements.

After almost three years of intense fighting, it is imperative to repeat that peace in Ukraine is long overdue. The Minsk Agreements carry an important lesson for us all in this respect.

With this in mind, I would like to submit the following:

One – Specificity. We need something more than Minsk 3. The abstract nature of the Minsk Agreements enabled arbitrary interpretations, which provided an alibi for their violations. Any future ceasefire or peace agreement must be much more specific. It will need clear timelines, defined sequencing and strong monitoring mechanisms.

Two – Trust. This will be the key issue of negotiating any future peace agreement and, above all, of its implementation. With its invasion, Russia violated international law, the UN Charter, the Budapest Memorandum, as well as the Helsinki Final Act on the inviolability of borders in Europe. For Ukraine and Russia to reach a deal, rebuilding trust will be a tremendous task. Russia will need to demonstrate to Ukraine, to the rest of the European continent and the entire world that it can be trusted to hold up to its commitments.

Mr. President,

The Russian invasion put an end to our hope. Hope that Minsk Agreements can bring peace, stability and reintegration to Eastern Ukraine. However, on the lookout for lasting peace in Ukraine, it is counterproductive to linger over past agreements. Especially the ones that met an early end because of one’s own actions. Or inactions.

We need to learn from past failures, not to dwell on them. This is the first step on the way to building trust and securing future stability in Eastern Europe.

Thank you.

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