Mr. President,
The Netherlands aligns itself with the EU statement that will be delivered.
Three years ago today, a line was crossed.
Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity were violated.
International law was trampled on.
The very principles of the United Nations Charter were blatantly disregarded.
Ukraine did not provoke this war, nor did it start it.
Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, a body with a special responsibility to uphold peace and security under the UN Charter, chose to violate Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and thereby the founding principles on which this organization is build.
Today’s vote is a clear signal in support of international law, upholding the UN Charter, and against creating a world where might is right.
Ending the war with a quick fix gives the aggressor the opportunity for repetition and will set a precedent for aggressors elsewhere.
For three years, the people of Ukraine have demonstrated extraordinary resilience against Russia’s unprovoked aggression.
But the costs have been staggering, at the front line and behind the front line, as Russia continues its attacks on energy and other civilian infrastructure and on cultural objects on a daily basis.
And in the occupied territories, where, according to the Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, Russia’s occupation brings widespread suffering and oppression.
Russia intends to break the Ukrainian spirit, artificially alter its demographics, and forcibly Russify millions under occupation and destroy Ukrainian identity.
We cannot let Russia succeed.
Russia’s aggression has had devastating and long-lasting consequences, also for the world as a whole.
Food and energy prices have soared, the environment has been adversely affected and there is an escalating risk of a nuclear disaster due to Russia’s attacks on the Ukrainian power grid connected to nuclear plants.