UN Security Council Meeting on Maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine

Mr. President,
I join previous delegations in thanking Under Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and Legal Counsel, Mr. Serpa Soares, for his briefing and for clarifying the role of the United Nations Secretariat in relation to the implementation of Security Council resolution 2231. Our Russian colleagues have suggested that the joint request by France, Germany and the United Kingdom for an investigation by the Secretariat’s team responsible for the monitoring and implementation of resolution 2231, into the reported transfer from Iran to the Russian Federation of unmanned aerial vehicles being used in Ukraine, constitutes a violation of the United Nations Charter. Ghana is fully supportive of the objectives of resolution 2231 which has at its core the protection of humanity from the dangers of nuclear capacities. We, therefore, urge full compliance with its provisions and support the investigation of any violations through appropriate channels. The issue that presently confronts us, however, is the continuing aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and the imperatives for the reversal of such action.
 

We continue to be deeply concerned by the Russian Federation’s unjustified invasion of the sovereign territory of Ukraine, its targeted attacks against civilians and the deliberate destruction of civilian and critical infrastructure in violation of the principles of international law and the values and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations. It is these actions by the Russian Federation and its subsequent wielding of the veto in a manner that has so far restrained requisite Council action that casts doubts on our ability to deliver on the mandate to promote international peace and security as it relates to Ukraine. This is the reality that threatens the peace and stability of our international system and regrettably, impugns the integrity of our organization.
 

We re-iterate our call on the Russian Federation to immediately and unconditionally withdraw its troops from the internationally recognized borders of Ukraine and bring an end to the war which has not only affected Ukraine and its people, but has also precipitated unpleasant socio-economic challenges, especially, for developing countries like Ghana. We remain deeply concerned by the prevailing conditions marked by intense fighting and heightened rhetoric relating to the use or threat of the use of various forms of weapons of mass destruction. We are also concerned that the requirements for nuclear safety and security at the Zaporizhzhia are yet to be implemented. We strongly urge restraint and caution against such rhetoric being used as justification for any tactical use of nuclear weapons.
 

The precarious conditions in Ukraine and the tendency for its rapid escalation highlight the urgency to intensify diplomatic efforts to end the hostilities and further help the parties on a pathway to a pacific settlement of the conflict through dialogue. I close by re-affirming Ghana’s full support for the sovereignty, political
independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
 

I thank you.