Security Council: Ukraine

Note: A complete summary of today's Security Council meeting will be made available after its conclusion.

Briefings

ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, Secretary-General of the United Nations, reported that the Russian Federation's war in Ukraine shows no sign of letting up; rather, dangerous, disturbing developments represent further steps away from peace and towards an endless cycle of horror and bloodshed. "The idea of nuclear conflict, once thinkable, has become a subject of debate," he added. Expressing concern over reports of plans to organize so-called referenda in areas of Ukraine currently not under Government control, he underscored that any annexation of a State's territory by another State resulting from the threat or use of force is a violation of the Charter of the United Nations and of international law.

He went on to say that an average of five children are killed or injured every day, that almost every child in Ukraine "has been scarred by the nightmare of war" and that some 14 million people - the majority of them women and children - have been forced to flee. This situation will only get worse as winter approaches and energy supplies dwindle. On a global level, the conflict has supercharged a triple crisis of food, energy and finance, driving millions more people into extreme poverty and hunger and reversing years of development progress. "The most vulnerable are suffering most," he stressed.

For its part, he pointed out that the United Nations is working to "maximize every opportunity to alleviate suffering", and together with its humanitarian partners on the ground, has provided aid to nearly 13 million people in need. It was critical humanitarian workers have safe, unhindered access to all those requiring assistance. Turning to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) - which has been documenting the unacceptable impact of this war on human rights - he said that the Office's reports "are a catalogue of cruelty". They document summary executions, sexual violence, torture and other inhumane, degrading treatment of civilians and prisoners of war.

"The latest accounts of burial sites in Izium are extremely disturbing," he said, calling for thorough investigation of all allegations to ensure accountability. Ending impunity for international crimes is fundamental, and in this, the International Criminal Court plays an important role. Noting that the Court's Prosecutor has opened an investigation into the situation in Ukraine, he underlined the need for full cooperation with the Court. He also pointed out that the Fact-Finding Mission he established following the tragic incident in Olenivka is ready to deploy once all necessary assurances have been received, stressing that the mission must have safe, unfettered access to all relevant places, people and evidence.

Spotlighting the concerning situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, he said that the presence of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at the plant is an important deterrent and underscored that all attacks on nuclear facilities must cease. "The world cannot afford a nuclear catastrophe," he said. He then welcomed the recent exchange of 250 prisoners of war between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, expressing hope that the parties will build on this with further exchanges. He also welcomed the signing of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which has resulted in a sharp drop in global food prices. These food shipments must continue and increase so that commodity markets further stabilize, and further, all States must immediately remove all obstacles to the export of Russian fertilizer.

"There is only one way to end the suffering in Ukraine," he underscored, "and that is by ending the war". Noting that he will continue to spare no effort for peace in line with international law and the Charter of the United Nations, he appealed to all Member States - especially those present - to redouble their efforts to prevent further escalation, end the war and ensure lasting peace.

KARIM KHAN, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, said that, at this critical moment, the international community must jointly demonstrate that the law is also on the front lines in this conflict, protecting the fundamental rights of children, women and men. Spotlighting the responsibilities in conflict and underlining that accountability is absolutely essential, he stressed that the leaders of the world needed to renew the pledge made at Nuremberg to remove the statute on war crimes. "We must show that those who pick up a gun or load a missile do not benefit from impunity," he emphasized, adding that rule of law can truly serve as an anchor for peace and security in Ukraine and in other places.

He went on to report that, between 25 February and 2 March, 43 State parties referred the situation in Ukraine to the Court. This signifies not only the level of global concern, but also reflects the common understanding that the law has an important role to play. Investigators were sent to the area to conduct forensic and painstaking work in order to separate truth from fiction. The largest-ever field deployment took place in May this year. Through innovative partnerships with national authorities, private entities, international organizations and States, a new model is being built in which a coordinated, coherent approach to action is more effective, he noted.

The process of accountability, of collecting information and evidence, of subjecting it to analysis and scrutinizing it in line with international standards, is essential to "piercing the fog of war", exposing disinformation and getting to the truth, he continued. That is sole role of the Prosecutor's Office, and it has no other agenda besides what it is tasked with by the Rome Statute. In that regard, he detailed his visit to Ukraine and the first-hand evidence he saw of crimes, including bodies laid behind the Church of Saint Andrew in Bucha, the profound destruction in the streets of Borodyanka and the sound of bombs being dropped - a daily occurrence for Ukrainian citizens. Further, evidence and information collected by the Office detailed the targeting of civilian buildings, including hospitals, as well as the transfer of populations from Ukraine, including significant numbers of children. Based on the work to date, there are reasonable grounds to believe that crimes within the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court have been committed in Ukraine.

"Justice is not political," he stated. Rather, it is the vindication of the fundamental rights of all members of humanity and a demonstration that the promises made through the Charter of the United Nations and the Rome Statute have meaning. As a starting point for the process of building peace and security, there must be a unity of purpose in upholding these fundamental rights, including the right of those in fear of their lives to know the law is on their side; the right of the families of victims to find out what has happened to their loved ones; and the right of survivors to see justice done in accordance with the rule of law. He pledged his commitment to work with all States and the United Nations to deliver justice in Ukraine and to vindicate the rights of communities impacted by atrocities globally.

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