Statement by H. E. Mr. Marko Štucin, Deputy Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, at the briefing on the maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine

Thank you very much Minister for organizing this briefing.

I would also like to thank Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo delivering the statement on behalf of UN Secretary-General and I would also like to warmly welcome Ukrainian Foreign Minister Sybiha in this meeting.

Tomorrow we will mark 1000 days of war in Ukraine. 1000 days of death, destruction and displacement. But also 1000 days of inaction of this very Council.

I have just returned from Kyiv, and while being humbled by Ukraine’s perseverance and determination, I am also deeply disturbed by the dire situation that the civilian population is facing, as the country enters the third winter of this war of aggression.

Just in terms of the toll on human lives, these 1000 days have been catastrophic. Last week I have also visited Bucha, one of many sites where mass graves were found in the first months of the war in Ukraine. In just one of them, 508 Ukrainians are buried. And the bloodshed continues. It is estimated that in the first half of this year, three times as many people died in Ukraine as there were born. The number of civilian casualties is at its highest in the last two years.  

This gloomy picture is only about to get worse as Ukrainians brace themselves for the winter. Just yesterday, Russia launched its largest aerial attack on Ukraine in months, hitting energy infrastructure across the country with more than 200 drones and missiles. Continuous deliberate attacks against energy infrastructure are not just a military tactics. They are, first and foremost, attacks on civilians, taking away their lights, cutting off their heating, breaking their spirits. These attacks are a despicable violation of international humanitarian law.

Mr. President,

For 1000 days, we have been discussing the casualties of the war and each time our deliberations were followed by silence and impunity. With each day of inaction by this Council, the integrity of international law, including the Charter, was diminished.

A lot is at stake with this war. It is more important than ever that the Council members condemn aggression; that we demand respect for international humanitarian and human rights law; and that we make it clear to the perpetrators of war crimes that they will not get away with it and will be held accountable.

A single day of war is one too many. There are no words to describe how tormenting a thousand days of war are.

We need a just and lasting peace as soon as possible. A peace that would not come at the expense of the fundamentals of international law. A peace that will be based on UN Charter and its key principles, safeguarding Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. Ukraine as the country under attack must of course agree with any such peace plan.

This is the only way to stop this war. And this war must stop. Until then, Slovenia will support Ukraine every step of the way.

I thank you Mr. President.

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