Ukraine Now among World’s Most Heavily Mine-Contaminated States, Disarmament Chief Tells Security Council, Calling for Immediate End to Use of Indiscriminate Weapons
The large-scale influx of arms and ammunition into any armed conflict raises significant concerns for peace and security, even after the conflict has ended, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today, as many delegates underscored that the Russian Federation — while urging Western countries to stop supplying weapons to Ukraine — has itself violated the 15-member organ’s resolutions by procuring weapons from Pyongyang and Tehran to use in the conflict.
Almost 27 months have passed since the Russian Federation launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine — “that represents over 800 days of death, destruction, widespread devastation and immense suffering for the Ukrainian people,” observed Izumi Nakamitsu, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs. The escalating attacks — particularly in the Kharkiv region — have led to more civilian deaths and injuries as well as massive destruction of civilian infrastructure. Moreover, Ukraine is now one of the world’s most heavily mine-contaminated countries, and it will require decades of clearance efforts.
On the continued provision of military transfers of arms and ammunition to the Ukrainian armed forces, she said they reportedly included heavy conventional weapons such as battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles, combat aircraft, helicopters, large-calibre artillery systems, missile systems and uncrewed combat aerial vehicles. Concurrently, there have been reports of States transferring weapons such as uncrewed aerial vehicles, ballistic missiles and ammunition to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
Underscoring that “any transfer of weapons and ammunition must take place within the applicable international legal framework”, she expressed concern over reports related to the transfer and use of anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions in Ukraine. “There must be an immediate end to the use of these inherently indiscriminate weapons, which have a devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact on civilians,” she stated. Further, she said full and effective implementation of the relevant treaties must remain a priority to prevent the diversion of conventional arms and regulate the international arms trade.
Margaret Kimberley, Executive Editor of Black Agenda Report and a member of the Black Alliance for Peace and United National Antiwar Coalition, said that the United States has allocated nearly $175 billion for the Ukrainian war effort. Stressing that the war “would end if this country and others stopped providing arms”, she cautioned that “the possibility of peace was lost when my country and others subverted these talks by promising the Government of Ukraine that it would receive an endless supply of weapons.”
In the ensuing discussion, numerous delegates underscored that all States must comply with their obligations under international arms-control instruments, including the Russian Federation, whose military aggression continues to be fuelled by unlawful transfers of munitions from third parties.
If the West was to stop supplying weapons to Kyiv, the conflict would end in two weeks, emphasized the Russian Federation’s delegate. Even though the United States allocated its long-awaited military assistance package to the “Zelenskyy regime”, there is no “wonder weapon” that the West can give to Ukraine that can reverse the “extremely negative trends the Ukrainian army is seeing on the battlefield”. He also stressed that “the sponsors of the Zelenskyy clique” are violating their international legal obligations, pointing in this regard to the regular shelling of “Donbas, Belgorod and other Russian regions”. Rejecting this “selective blindness”, he underscored that any potential negotiations should be based on “fair considerations” of Moscow’s security concerns and “new territorial realities”.
The speaker for Ukraine countered that Moscow’s obsessive inclination to request the Council to meet on weapons supplies is a manifestation of its desire to expand a no-return fire zone to the entire Ukraine. “For Ukraine, however, this is a matter of survival, and we are therefore grateful to our allies who continue to support our fight,” he said, adding that his country “will continue to exercise its inherent right to self-defence”. On the escalation on the ground, he said the country’s northern region of Kharkiv is now suffering the same fate as other hotspots. He expressed particular concern that “Russian troops flagrantly violate the Chemical Weapons Convention by resorting to artillery shelling with chemically hazardous substances.”
Citing Moscow’s pretence that “it is assistance to Ukraine and not its own aggression that is prolonging the war” as “disingenuous” and “cynical”, the speaker for the United States condemned its brazen violations of Council resolutions. He recalled that the Panel of Experts of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006) inspected debris in Ukraine from a missile fired into Kharkiv and determined that it was from Pyongyang’s Hwasong-11 series ballistic missile, noting that the export of such missiles constitutes a violation of the UN arms embargo. Also reporting that the Russian Federation Armed Forces use chemical weapons, he expressed concern over China’s support to rebuild Moscow’s defence industrial base.
To that, China’s delegate said that his country — neither the creator of nor party to the Ukraine crisis — has not provided lethal weapons to any party thereto. Further, China has the right to trade with all countries, and he urged the United States to stop taking advantage of the Ukraine crisis to “advance its geopolitical strategy”. Voicing concern over the expanded variety and increasing lethality of weapons flowing into battlefields, he stated: “Weapons may end wars, but they do not bring about lasting peace.” Recalling the recent meeting between China President Xi Jinping and “the visiting Russian leader”, he underlined the need for a new security architecture.
“What does Russia want when it demands that we cease support for Ukraine? […] To raze its cities unimpeded? Permanently deprive its people of water, gas and electricity?” asked France’s delegate, stating: “We will not allow Russia to destroy Ukraine.”
Expressing concern over the grave risks posed to regional and global security by transferring weapons into an active conflict, her counterpart from Guyana stated that “the only effective means of preventing further escalation or instability in Ukraine and the broader region is to end this war […] through peaceful means.”
At the outset of the meeting, Council members observed a minute of silence for the passing of Iran’s President, Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other passengers in a tragic helicopter crash on 19 May.
THREATS TO INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY
Briefings
IZUMI NAKAMITSU, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, said that, almost 27 months have passed since the Russian Federation launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine — “that represents over 800 days of death, destruction, widespread devastation and immense suffering for the Ukrainian people”. The escalating attacks on Ukrainian villages, towns and cities — particularly the Kharkiv region — have led to more civilian deaths and injuries as well as massive destruction of civilian infrastructure. Strikes have also been reported inside the Russian Federation, reportedly also resulting in civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. The continued and intensified attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure must stop immediately, she asserted.
Over the last months, the provision of military assistance and transfers of arms and ammunition to the Ukrainian armed forces have continued, she said, noting that these transfers have reportedly included heavy conventional weapons such as battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles, combat aircraft, helicopters, large-calibre artillery systems, missile systems and uncrewed combat aerial vehicles, as well as remotely operated munitions, small arms and light weapons and their ammunition. There have also been reports of States transferring — or planning to transfer — weapons such as uncrewed aerial vehicles, ballistic missiles and ammunition to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and that these weapons have been used in Ukraine.
Reiterating that “any transfer of weapons and ammunition must take place within the applicable international legal framework,” including relevant Council resolutions, she expressed concern over reports related to the transfer and use of anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions in Ukraine. “There must be an immediate end to the use of these inherently indiscriminate weapons, which have a devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact on civilians,” she stated. Ukraine is now one of the world’s most heavily mine-contaminated countries, and it will require decades of clearance efforts with the support of the international community to make sure communities are safe from the threat of mines.
She went on to underscore that the large-scale influx of arms and ammunition into any armed conflict raises significant concerns for peace and security, even after the conflict has ended. “Importing, transit, producing and exporting States must act responsibly at every step along the arms and ammunition transfer chain to prevent diversion, illicit trafficking and misuse,” she emphasized. In this regard, pre-transfer risk assessments, marking, record-keeping practices and tracing capabilities are paramount. To prevent the diversion of conventional arms and regulate the international arms trade, full and effective implementation of the relevant treaties must remain a priority.
She reported that from 24 February 2022 to 16 May 2024, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has verified that conflict-related violence has killed at least 11,017 civilians and injured 21,445 in Ukraine. “It is very concerning that the number of injured civilians has increased significantly for the second month in a row,” she observed, adding that the vast majority of civilian casualties are a result of the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas. Accordingly, she referred to the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas. Warning that the use of armed uncrewed aerial vehicles and missiles continues to cause civilian deaths and injuries as well as damage to civilian infrastructure, she stressed that “it is time to put an end to this war”.
MARGARET KIMBERLEY, Executive Editor of Black Agenda Report and a member of the Black Alliance for Peace and of the United National Antiwar Coalition, said the United States has allocated nearly $175 billion for the Ukrainian war effort. “For the last two years we have seen a terrible war which would end if this country and others would stop providing arms and instead seek peace,” she said. “The possibility of peace was lost when my country and others subverted these talks by promising the Government of Ukraine that it would receive an endless supply of weapons with which to achieve a military victory.” Not only has that victory been elusive, but thousands of Ukrainians, the people this country claims to care so much about, have lost their lives, she said, adding that many Russians have also perished in the fighting.
The world needs cooperation, she said, adding that other nations have suffered economically from the futile effort to keep oil from the Russian Federation off world markets. Global South nations have been particularly impacted but developed nations in Europe were also deprived of affordable gas supplies from the Russian Federation.
A recent poll indicated that 71 per cent of people in the United States would like to see a negotiated settlement instead of ongoing conflict. But the millions of Americans who want an end to the conflict have been deprived of representation. “As a citizen of the United States, I am frankly shocked by the lengths this country will go to in order to pursue a dangerous plan that is doomed to failure,” she said, reiterating that there have been peace proposals in the past two years, most recently by China, which has developed a comprehensive 12-point plan that could mean the end of destruction and suffering. In closing, she urged the United Nations to investigate the catastrophic destruction of the Nord Stream pipelines on 26 September 2022. It is imperative that the United Nations undertake an independent investigation of its own, she said.
Statements
The representative of the Russian Federation said that, for some weeks now, “Western warmongers and backers of Kyiv” have been in a “good mood” because the United States allocated its long-awaited package of military assistance to the “Zelenskyy regime”. Emphasizing that the “lion’s share” of those resources will be spent in the United States itself, he said that several large weapons manufacturers raised their prices by 5.7 per cent a few weeks ahead of that decision, also spotlighting a “sharp increase in capitalization” among Western military corporations. He underscored, however, that military experts make clear that there is no “wonder weapon” that the West can give to Ukraine that can reverse the “extremely negative trends the Ukrainian army is seeing on the battlefield”. Further, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) “sponsors of the Zelenskyy clique” are violating their international legal obligations, including the Arms Trade Treaty, he said.
Noting that such Treaty obliges States to ban the transfer of weapons if there are reliable reports of their use to attack civilian infrastructure, he spotlighted the regular shelling of “Donbas, Belgorod and other Russian regions”. As such, the West is demonstrating “selective blindness”, he stated, adding: “The truth is that, from 2014, Washington and its allies have tried to set up an experimental guinea pig in Ukraine to spite Russia and, ideally, to hamper its development.” He said, however, that “the piggy has become aggressive and unabashed”. He then drew attention to “recognition from Brussels” that, if the West was to stop supplying weapons to Kyiv, the conflict would end in two weeks. “For any unbiased, thinking person, it is absolutely clear that, without their harmful interference, the conflict would have come to an end a long time ago — in fact, it would never have even started,” he said. He added that any potential negotiations should be based on “fair considerations” of Moscow’s security concerns and “new territorial realities”.
The representative of the United States said that “Russia’s pretense that it is assistance to Ukraine and not its own aggression that is prolonging the war is as disingenuous as it is cynical.” Noting that Moscow makes appeals to the Council while it brazenly violates its resolutions, he observed that “when caught, Russia obfuscates and distracts, right out of the ‘Russian playbook’ that we all know.” He recalled that the 1718 Committee Panel of Experts inspected debris in Ukraine from a missile fired into Kharkiv and determined that it was from Pyongyang’s Hwasong-11 series ballistic missile, underscoring that the export of such missiles constitutes a violation of the UN arms embargo. Reporting that the Russian Federation Armed Forces use chemical weapons to dislodge Ukrainian Forces from fortified positions, he said that Moscow retains an undeclared chemical weapons programme. He also expressed concern over China’s support to rebuild Moscow’s defence industrial base.
The representative of Guyana expressed alarm at the rising civilian casualties and condemned attacks against civilians and the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. Calling on the parties to uphold their obligations under international law, she commended the humanitarian community for their aid and assistance. Expressing concern over the grave risks posed to regional and global security by transferring weapons into an active conflict, she said the supply of weapons and ammunition has the potential to further escalate or prolong the violence. She called on all parties to ensure transfers, comply with relevant disarmament instruments and UN Security Council resolutions and urged the parties to desist from the use of anti-personnel landmines and cluster munitions. “The only effective means of preventing further escalation or instability in Ukraine and the broader region is to end this war and to do so through peaceful means,” she said.
The representative of Malta, noting that attacks on Ukraine increased by 17 per cent between March and April, highlighted the use of glide bombs which can pack hundreds of explosives in a single blast. In the light of concerning reports that the Russian Federation is procuring weapons and ammunition from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, she said, the former’s decision to veto the renewal of the mandate of the 1718 Panel of Experts is even more troubling. “Beneath the damage and destruction lie deep psychological wounds caused by Russia’s war,” she said. Further, since 10 May, nearly 8,000 civilians have been forced to flee from their villages and settlements in the Kharkiv region. Welcoming the upcoming “Summit on Peace in Ukraine”, to be held in Switzerland in June, she stressed that Ukraine has the inherent right to defend itself and has the right to rely on its allies to do so.
The representative of the Republic of Korea said it was “frankly preposterous” for the Russian Federation to request the meeting regarding weapon transfers to Ukraine. Military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang would be a more relevant topic, he said, noting that in April, the Russian Federation vetoed the mandate extension of the Council’s 1718 Committee Panel of Experts to prevent the revelation of illegal supply of North Korean weapons to Russia. He urged the Russian Federation to immediately cease its military cooperation with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. He added that the Russian Federation’s expansion of the front into Ukraine’s north-eastern borders near Kharkiv is deplorable, and again stressed that the devastation and human suffering in Ukraine are a direct result of the Russian Federation’s illegal invasion. “Only Russia can end the war and Russia must end the war,” he said.
The representative of France observed that the Russian Federation is carrying out daily attacks on Ukraine, some of which deliberately target the Ukrainian civilian population and infrastructure. France and its partners provide their support to Ukraine so that it can defend its people against these attacks. “What does Russia want when it demands that we cease support for Ukraine? […] To raze Ukrainian cities unimpeded? Permanently deprive the Ukrainian people of water, gas and electricity?” she asked, stating: “We will not allow Russia to destroy Ukraine.” In conducting its illegal war, Moscow uses illegal means. It obtains its weapons and ammunition — including ballistic missiles — from Pyongyang. And to conceal these flagrant violations of Council resolutions, it is blocking the renewal of the group of experts of the 1718 Committee. Moreover, she stressed, the country has acquired thousands of drones from Iran — the same drones that target civilian populations, stations, railways, residential buildings, shopping centres and energy infrastructure.
The representative of the United Kingdom, noting the appalling destruction of Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, said Russian Federation forces continue their devastating attacks around Kharkiv, using ballistic missiles from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Stressing that its procurement of weapons from Pyongyang violates numerous Council resolutions, in addition to its use of thousands of Iranian drones since 2022, he urged both countries to cease all support to Moscow. Also, any transfer of ballistic missiles or related technology from Iran to the Russian Federation would be “a significant escalation”. Russian forces have also admitted to using riot control agents on the battlefield, he said, agreeing with Washington, D.C.’s determination that the country has used chloropicrin against Ukrainian forces. “This is a war that Russia cannot win and is costing young Russians their future,” he asserted, noting that the military takes up 40 per cent of the Government’s spending. At the current rate, by next year, “Russia will have been responsible for well over half a million personnel killed and wounded over three years of its needless war,” he observed, stating that it “shows no signs of wanting peace”.
The representative of Algeria once again called on the parties abandon the logic of confrontation and privilege peaceful solutions through dialogue and negotiations. He expressed concern that increasingly lethal weapons are flowing into the area of conflict, further harming the civilian population, and that these weapons and ammunitions may fall into the hands of criminal and terrorist groups. “We once again call upon all parties to uphold the UN Charter and to fully comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law,” he said, adding that it is crucial to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure to alleviate the suffering.
The representative of Switzerland, noting the more than 700 civilian casualties recorded across Ukraine in April alone, highlighted the grave situation in the Kharkiv region and commended the humanitarian personnel facilitating the evacuation of those closest to hostilities. He also noted that Switzerland will hold a peace summit from 15-16 June “to provide space for different ideas”, expressing hope for the “active participation of many of you”. He also stressed that “our neutrality does not mean indifference”; rather, it means that Switzerland will advocate for a fair, lasting solution in Ukraine. For its part, the Russian Federation must immediately cease all hostilities and withdraw its troops from Ukrainian territory. Also pointing out that Moscow’s military aggression continues to be fuelled by transfers of munitions from third parties, he stressed that all States must respect and comply with their obligations under international arms-control instruments.
The representative of Japan said that it is a “tragic irony that a permanent member of the Security Council condemns those defending themselves from its own aggression”. While Moscow has been criticizing the “legitimate” support for Ukraine by the international community, it has procured weapons from Pyongyang. Reiterating concerns about “what North Korea is getting in return”, she expressed regret that the Russian Federation chose to cast the veto on the renewal of the Panel of Experts of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006). She observed that peace in Ukraine must be based on the Charter of the United Nations, stressing that the security of Europe and the Indo-Pacific and beyond is inseparable. Also noting that her Government continues to spare no effort to bring about peace in Ukraine, she added: “Our resolve to stand with Ukraine and the UN Charter will never waver.”
The representative of Slovenia emphasized that any country under foreign invasion has a right to defend itself in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. “Our aid to Ukraine supports this inalienable right and we will continue to do so until this war of aggression ends,” he said. Recalling that the Panel of Experts of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006) determined that a missile that landed in Kharkiv in January was a Hwasong 11 series missile from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, he expressed concern over the mounting evidence on Russia’s missile procurement from Pyongyang, which is a violation of multiple Security Council resolutions and needs to be urgently addressed. He also expressed dismay over the Security Council’s inability to extend the mandate of the Panel, which was vetoed by the Russian Federation.
The representative of China expressed concern over the expanded variety and increasing lethality of weapons flowing into battlefields, as well as the cumulative risk of their diversion. “Weapons may end wars, but they do not bring about lasting peace,” he observed. He therefore called on all concerned to “put peace and humanity first” and concentrate their resources and energy on diplomacy. Recalling the recent meeting between China President Xi Jinping and “the visiting Russian leader”, he detailed discussions that underlined the need for a political solution and a new type of security architecture that is balanced, effective and sustainable. To the representative of the United States, he said that China is neither the creator of, nor party to, the Ukraine crisis, nor has Beijing provided lethal weapons to any party thereto. Further, China has the right to trade with all countries, and he urged the United States to stop taking advantage of the Ukraine crisis to “advance its geopolitical strategy”.
The representative of Ecuador said that his country’s historic position has always been the rejection of armed violence, militarization and stockpiling of weapons. Underscoring that international legal frameworks governing the transfer of weapons and ammunition must be respected, he echoed the Secretary General’s call on the parties to abstain from using explosive weapons on populated areas and to keep combat away from urban zones. He further stressed that the use of weapons with indiscriminate and disproportionate effects must cease. He deplored the prolonged invasion of Ukraine’s territories that continues to exacerbate the risk of escalation, against a backdrop where the global military expenditure in 2023 reached $2.44 trillion — a 6.8 per cent increase in real terms over 2022. Further, he urged the international community to step up to facilitate peace talks.
The representative of Sierra Leone observed that the continuous supply of weapons has the potential to prolong and escalate the conflict, urging the warring parties to protect civilian populations and infrastructure. All transfers of weapons in conflict situations should occur within the applicable legal framework and relevant Council resolutions to prevent the diversion of arms and ammunition, he asserted. In this regard, he pointed to the reported collapse of a building in the Russian city of Belgorod. Further, he highlighted that 40 per cent of the Ukrainian population needs humanitarian assistance while approximately 9.7 million people have been displaced by the war. Underscoring the need to uphold the principles of international law — including respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity — he called for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
The representative of Mozambique, Council President for May, speaking in his national capacity, said that since the last Council meeting on Ukraine, held on 12 April, the situation in the country has worsened, noting that civilians continue to bear the brunt of death, danger and destruction. “The trend of incremental arms supplies to Ukraine reflects the escalatory nature of the conflict,” he observed, adding that this conflict is marked by unbridgeable levels of mutual distrust and primacy of a military solution over a negotiated settlement. Stressing that equal measure of effort must be deployed so that peace and security are not endangered, he underscored the importance of arms control and responsible arms transfer. He recalled that his country has consistently advocated for a political and negotiated solution as the most viable way for peace between the two neighbouring countries and called on the parties to actively engage in a constructive dialogue.
The representative of the United States, speaking in reply to China, said that his country will continue to call out those States that provide support to the industrial base of the Russian Federation as it carries out its brutal aggression against the people of Ukraine. “Our calls will not seize until that support to Russia seizes,” he said.
The representative of China, speaking in reply to the United States, said that his country’s position on the Ukraine crisis is impartial and that Beijing supports a peaceful resolution of the crisis. “We hope the countries concerned will not undermine the collective efforts of the international community to seek a political solution,” he said.
The representative of Ukraine said it is a mockery of the Security Council’s mandate when the aggressor demands the 15-member organ address complaints about the victim having weapons to defend itself. “It is a mockery of common sense when the aggressor makes such demands after opening a new front and thus significantly expanding the area of hostilities, human suffering and destruction,” he said, adding that the north of Kharkiv region is now suffering the same fate as other hotspots. Settlements are being razed to the ground. People are fleeing their homes. And those who cannot evacuate are subjected to inhumane treatment by the soldiers from the Russian Federation, he said, adding that there have already been reports of executions by Russian soldiers in the town of Vovchansk and an air strike on 19 May killed 12 civilians, including a pregnant woman, in the Kharkiv region.
“As Russian terrorists once again resorted to the tactics of double strikes, two paramedics were among the victims,” he said. “We are alarmed that Russian troops flagrantly violate the Chemical Weapons Convention by resorting to artillery shelling with chemically hazardous substances.” The Russian Federation’s obsessive inclination to request the Council to meet on weapons supplies is a manifestation of their desire to expand a no-return-fire zone to the entire Ukraine. “For Ukraine, however, this is a matter of survival and we are therefore grateful to our allies who continue to support our fight,” he said. “Ukraine will continue to exercise its inherent right to self-defence.”
Since the beginning of the Russian Federation’s aggression, illegitimacy narratives have been the backbone of Moscow’s propaganda. To justify its unwillingness to end the war, the Russian Federation continues to repeat this illegitimate narrative. In conclusion, he noted that solidarity with Ukraine saves the lives of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians and undermines the aggressor’s ability to spread violence to other countries.
The representative of the Russian Federation, taking the floor a second time, cited a “recent survey” indicating that only 17 per cent of Ukraine’s population believes in the legitimacy of their President. Further, the Government of Ukraine has not taken this issue to the Constitutional Court, he said, “because it is worried it won’t get the response it wants”. He added that such legitimacy “has no impact whatsoever anyway on our special military operation”.