Urging Just, Lasting Peace in Ukraine, Disarmament Chief Tells Security Council Weapons Transfer to Warring Parties Must Respect International Law
As the United Nations’ disarmament chief urged just and lasting peace in Ukraine before the Security Council today, its members — meeting again, at the Russian Federation’s behest, on Western arms deliveries to that country — alternately reiterated Kyiv’s right to defend itself, pointed to Moscow’s procurement of arms from third States and called for dialogue ahead of a peace summit that will occur in Switzerland on 15-16 June.
“I reiterate that any transfer of weapons and ammunition must take place consistently with the applicable international legal framework — including, of course, relevant Security Council resolutions,” emphasized Izumi Nakamitsu, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs. Addressing the risk of diversion is also essential, she said, which requires supply-chain transparency as well as cooperation and information exchange between importing, transit and exporting States. Detailing other concrete counter-diversion measures, she also expressed concern over Ukraine’s widespread contamination with explosive remnants of war.
The Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion — launched in violation of international law — “continues to inflict a terrible toll on the people of Ukraine”, she stressed, reporting that 11,126 civilians have been killed, alongside 21,863 injured, since the war began. The actual figures are likely to be considerably higher. “Such human suffering cannot continue,” she underscored, adding: “As I have repeatedly stated, we need a just and lasting peace in Ukraine in line with the UN Charter, international law and relevant General Assembly resolutions.”
The Council also heard from Daniel Kovalik, peace activist, who said that that the United States “is presenting Russia with a ‘reverse Cuban missile crisis’”. Ukraine has been utilizing United States drones to attack radar stations deep inside the Russian Federation, he said, which are designed to defend that country against potential nuclear attack from the United States. Pointing out that Moscow could view such attacks as an attempt to pave the way for a nuclear first strike, he said that the current United States President is going out of his way to try to bring about a third World War.
Agreeing, the representative of the Russian Federation warned that “the situation surrounding Ukraine is developing based on an increasingly dangerous scenario”. Western States have decided on escalation, which risks catastrophic consequences. Further, Western instructors and mercenaries have been involved since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, he said, underscoring that Western leaders — while dreaming about vanquishing his country on the battlefield — completely misunderstand the scale of the threat they are creating. He asked: “Do you understand that your leadership is pushing Europe to the brink of a new great war?”
As other Council members joined the debate, many juxtaposed military support provided to Ukraine pursuant to its right to defend itself under Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations against reports of Moscow’s procurement and use of arms from Pyongyang and Tehran in violation of Council resolutions. Others, highlighting the war’s devastating impact on civilians, urged the parties to negotiate towards peace.
“While spreading the nonsense that the possession of arms by the defending party makes peace elusive, Russia itself continues to receive weapons from rogue States like Iran and North Korea,” underscored Ukraine’s representative. Spotlighting the upcoming peace summit, he said that “the powerful voice of the nations united around the principles of the UN Charter” will be decisive for peace in Ukraine. This voice, he added, is critical to make Moscow move towards good-faith negotiations to end the war, rather than continue “a propaganda campaign amplified by horrific daily missile strikes on Ukraine”.
“Russia is fooling no one,” stressed the representative of the United States, joining others in asserting that today’s meeting is an attempt to distract the world from what is happening in Ukraine. Concurring, the United Kingdom’s representative said that Moscow called today’s debate to obscure a simple truth — that President Putin’s illegal and unprovoked invasion is the sole cause of “the situation we face today”. “The problem”, he underscored, “is the presence of Russian weapons in Ukraine — not the reverse.”
Today’s meeting should have focused on the “illegal military cooperation” between Moscow and Pyongyang, stressed the representative of the Republic of Korea, Council President for June, as he spoke in his national capacity. Malta’s representative, similarly, said that the Russian Federation’s decision to veto the mandate renewal for the relevant Panel of Experts undermines the global non-proliferation regime and the UN Charter. Underscoring that “Ukraine has no alternative but to defend itself”, he noted that the upcoming peace summit will be a step towards comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
However, the representative of Sierra Leone said that the Russian Federation should have been invited to that summit, as it is “a key stakeholder in any peace process”. While “recognizing the rights of nations to self-defence”, he underlined the need for all parties to exercise restraint and prioritize peaceful conflict resolution. Mozambique’s representative echoed that, observing that conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza are examples of “forever wars” where prolonged violence becomes seemingly endless, exacerbated by external military support and asymmetric warfare.
“The situation on the ground is not evolving towards a peaceful settlement,” said Algeria’s representative, expressing concern over the influx and use of increasingly lethal and destructive weapons and ammunition in conflict zones. The representative of Guyana, noting that military budgets are soaring, contrasted global military expenditures of $2.4 trillion in 2023 with the fact that the humanitarian response plan for Ukraine remains only 27.5 per cent funded. Calling on the Russian Federation to withdraw from Ukraine’s internationally recognized territory, she underscored the need to find just, lasting peace through diplomacy.
Echoing that call was Switzerland’s representative, who also stated: “We must have the courage to build peace.” Spotlighting the upcoming Ukraine peace summit that her country will host from 15 to 16 June, she expressed hope that “this meeting will inspire a framework for a future peace process and enable us to move forward on the path to ending this terrible war”.
THREATS TO INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY
Briefings
IZUMI NAKAMITSU, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, reported that the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion — launched in violation of international law — “continues to inflict a terrible toll on the people of Ukraine”. Moscow’s intensified offensives in Kharkiv and other parts of the country have resulted in high numbers of civilian casualties and massive destruction of civilian objects and infrastructure. There have also been reports of an increasing number of strikes inside the Russian Federation resulting in civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. Expressing concern over continued, intensified attacks affecting civilian populations and infrastructure, she underscored that deliberate, direct attacks against such targets — as well as indiscriminate, disproportionate attacks — are prohibited under international humanitarian law and “must cease immediately”. Further, the use of explosive weapons in populated areas must be avoided, and she urged, ultimately, “taking combat out of urban areas altogether”.
Noting that the provision of military assistance and transfers of arms and ammunition to the Ukrainian Armed Forces have continued, she said that information from Governments regarding such transfers is accessible through open sources. There have also been reports of States transferring — or planning to transfer — weapons and ammunition to the Russian Federation Armed Forces, and that these weapons have been used in Ukraine. “I reiterate that any transfer of weapons and ammunition must take place consistently with the applicable international legal framework — including, of course, relevant Security Council resolutions,” she said. She also expressed concern over reports related to the use of cluster munitions and to Ukraine’s widespread contamination with mines and explosive remnants of war, pointing out that — even after the fighting ends — “these deadly devices can contaminate communities for decades to come, posing a daily and deadly danger to women, men and children and hampering reconstruction efforts”.
Against that backdrop, she underlined the need for full participation in, and implementation of, international conventions governing anti-personnel mines, cluster munitions and certain conventional weapons. Further, addressing the risk of diversion is “essential for preventing further instability and insecurity in Ukraine, the region and beyond”, she stressed. This requires supply-chain transparency, as well as cooperation and information exchange between importing, transit and exporting States. Concrete counter-diversion measures, meanwhile, include enhanced marking, record-keeping and tracing practices; comprehensive pre-transfer diversion risk assessments; end-user certificates that include non-transfer clauses; post-shipment verifications; and diversion monitoring and analysis. Effective physical security and stockpile management, as well as customs and border-control measures, are also key.
Stating that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has verified that the ongoing war in Ukraine has killed 11,126 civilians and injured 21,863 others — and that “the actual figures are likely to be considerably higher” — she expressed concern that the number of civilian casualties in May 2024 was the highest since June 2023. “Such human suffering cannot continue,” she underscored, calling on States to avoid taking any actions that could lead to further escalation and possible miscalculation. She added: “As I have repeatedly stated, we need a just and lasting peace in Ukraine in line with the UN Charter, international law and relevant General Assembly resolutions.”
DANIEL KOVALIK, peace activist, said “the US is presenting Russia with a ‘reverse Cuban missile crisis’”, noting that Ukraine has been utilizing United States drones to attack radar stations deep inside in the Russian Federation which are designed to defend that country against potential nuclear attack from the United States. The Russian Federation could view the attacks upon its radar stations as an attempt to pave the way for a nuclear first strike, he said, asking: “Could one imagine how the US would have reacted in 1962, or today, if Cuba used Russian weapons to attack similar US radar stations deep within the United States?” Recalling how then United States President John F. Kennedy worked behind the scenes to negotiate an end to the Cuban missile crisis even while he took an aggressive position publicly, he said the current crisis is much more concerning “given that the US does not have a leader of JFK’s calibre at the helm”.
Indeed, he added, the current President is actually going out of his way to try to bring about a third World War, he said, noting that the Biden Administration has announced that it will be officially supplying arms to Ukraine’s Azov Battalion, an avowed neo-Nazi military organization. Outlining this group’s recruitment activities, he said it has established youth camps and education programmes, including some that teach children as young as nine military tactics. Stressing that support for this Nazi organization must be viewed as a threat to peace and security in all of Europe, and as a special threat to the Russian Federation, he called on the Council to do something to stop this “abomination”.
Statements
The representative of the Russian Federation warned that “the situation surrounding Ukraine is developing based on an increasingly dangerous scenario”. Western States have decided to achieve another uptick in escalation, which risks catastrophic consequences. In this context, he echoed the words of the German Minister of Defence, who said: “We must not believe that Putin will stop at Ukraine’s borders — when he gets that far, we should be ready for war with Russia by 2029. We will need young women and men who can defend our country.” Along similar lines, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)’s Secretary General recently asserted that “the right to self-defence includes striking at legitimate targets outside Ukraine”, noting that “this does not constitute escalation”. Western States have been pumping Ukraine full of weapons for two years, using any means to keep the crisis in an active phase; Washington, D.C.’s elites even state that the proxy war on Ukrainian territory is “the cheapest possible way to exert pressure on Russia”.
Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, Western instructors and mercenaries have been partaking in it, he continued, adding that Western servicemen are micro-managing the regime’s use of cutting-edge, high-precision, long-range weapons. They are also determining the targets of these strikes, he observed, adding that “everyone complicit will be punished”. Western leaders — while dreaming about vanquishing the Russian Federation on the battlefield — completely misunderstood the scale of the threat that they are creating. “Do you understand that your leadership is pushing Europe to the brink of a new great war?” he asked. Detailing Ukraine’s attacks on Russian civilian targets, he said that, on 7 June, using United States weapons in Lugansk, the stairwell of a residential building collapsed, killing 6 and injuring 60.
“We are ready to discuss how we can achieve a lasting peace in Ukraine and Europe based on the reality on the ground and given our security interests,” he asserted, outlining President Vladimir Putin’s specific proposal for peace. It includes a neutral non-bloc status for Ukraine without nuclear weapons, nuclear demilitarization and denazification, full respect for rights and freedoms of Russian-speaking citizens in Ukraine, the recognition of the territorial reality on the ground — that is, the status of Crimea, the city of Sevastopol, Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia as constituent entities of the Russian Federation. He also underscored that all Western sanctions against his country should be lifted.
The representative of the United Kingdom, stating that his colleague from the Russian Federation called today’s debate to obscure a simple truth, said: “The situation we face today has one sole cause — [Russian Federation] President [Vladimir V.] Putin’s illegal and unprovoked invasion.” Underscoring that “the problem is the presence of Russian weapons in Ukraine, not the reverse”, he pointed out that much of Moscow’s campaign is planned and delivered from Russian Federation territory. Glide bombs hitting Ukrainian cities and missiles hitting power stations are launched from aircraft inside Russian Federation airspace, and Moscow is mustering, equipping and commanding forces for the Kharkiv offensive from inside its borders. Ukraine has “every right to defend itself from these attacks”, he said, emphasizing that striking military targets actively threatening its territory, infrastructure and civilian population “is not ‘escalatory’ — as Russia has claimed — but a reasonable step to protect itself”. He added: “Every country in a similar situation would do the same.”
The representative of Guyana, noting 28 months of near-daily bombardment of cities and towns and the killing of at least 11,000 civilians across Ukraine, said 14.6 million Ukrainians — about 40 per cent of the population — require some form of humanitarian assistance. With armed conflicts proliferating, Governments around the world are making unprecedented investments into soaring military budgets. Global military expenditure for 2023 reached $2.4 trillion, while the Ukraine Humanitarian Response Plan remains only 27.5 per cent funded, she pointed out. Highlighting the direct and indirect links between military expenditure and the reduction of resources for development, she called on the Russian Federation to withdraw its military forces from the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine. There is an urgent need to find a just and lasting peace through a political and diplomatic process, she said.
The representative of France noted that today marks the sixteenth time the Russian Federation has convened a meeting on Western arms deliveries to Ukraine. Faced with the disaster it has unleashed, it is attempting to reverse responsibility. Western weapons are not behind this war, he said, rather “the decision taken by Russia to launch […] the large-scale invasion of a State which posed no threat to it”. Also, Western weapons are not prolonging this conflict or weakening the international non-proliferation architecture. In this context, he recalled Moscow’s decision to obtain its arms and ammunition from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and armed drones from Iran. While Russian strikes intensify against Ukrainian territory — including its civilian populations and infrastructure — France will continue to provide that country with the military support pivotal to the protection of its air and land space, he asserted, adding that “helping Ukraine defend itself creates the conditions for a just and lasting peace”.
The representative of Sierra Leone expressed concern over attacks on the Russian Federation city of Belgorod and the use of highly destructive glide bombs dropped from planes on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv and its surroundings. He expressed further concern over “the seeming authorization given by some countries, encouraging Ukraine to use weapons supplied by third parties to strike targets inside Russia”. While “recognizing the rights of nations to self-defence”, he underlined the need for all parties to exercise restraint and prioritize peaceful means for conflict resolution. In this context, he said that the Russian Federation should have been invited to attend the upcoming Ukraine peace summit, as it is “a key stakeholder in any peace process”. He also called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict that account for “the legitimate concerns of all parties involved”.
The representative of the United States, stressing that today’s meeting is a transparent attempt to distract the world from what is happening in Ukraine, added: “Russia is fooling no one.” Rejecting the assertion that it is Ukraine’s efforts to defend itself that are blocking peace, he said that after more than two years since the start of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion, “there are now more countries sitting around this table than have stood beside Russia in its illegal war of aggression.” The Russian Federation has been strengthening ties with the few countries willing to support it, he said, adding that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has unlawfully transferred dozens of ballistic missiles and thousands of containers of munitions to aid the war against Ukraine. That is a clear violation of Security Council resolutions, he said, adding that Iran and China are also supporting the Russian Federation’s war efforts. The United States will stand by Ukraine, he said, calling on all States to do the same.
The representative of Algeria underscored the need to abandon the logic of confrontation prevailing in the conflict in Ukraine and urged the parties to prioritize the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure and favour dialogue and genuine negotiation, taking into consideration their legitimate security concerns. Noting that “the situation on the ground is not evolving towards a peaceful settlement”, he expressed concern about the influx and use of increasingly lethal and destructive weapons and ammunition in conflict zones. Equally concerning is the risk of those weapons falling into the hands and control of criminal or terrorist groups, as it could cause widespread threats to peace and security. “Our focus should be on reaching a peaceful settlement that could garner the consensus of the parties involved in this conflict,” he stated, stressing that “only genuine and inclusive negotiations could bring us closer to ending this conflict and building sustainable peace.”
The representative of Malta, pointing out that the Russian Federation is again trying to present the narrative that Ukraine is not entitled to defend itself — or receive any assistance from its allies to do so — stressed: “To exist, however, Ukraine has no alternative but to defend itself.” Moscow’s recent campaign against Ukraine’s power grid has been devastating, he said, noting that “as Ukraine’s summer starts with blackouts, unease about winter also begins to set in”. Also expressing concern over mounting evidence of Moscow’s procurement and use of Pyongyang’s missiles against Ukraine, he said that the Russian Federation’s decision to veto the mandate renewal for the relevant Panel of Experts undermines the global non-proliferation regime and the Charter of the United Nations. The upcoming peace summit will be a step towards comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine, he added, stressing: “A world in which might is right is a proposition that Malta can never accept.”
The representative of Mozambique, noting the United Nations repeated call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, said the human toll is heart-breaking. The path of escalating military force cannot lead to a sustainable resolution to this crisis, he pointed out; rather, it is fueling an arms race. “The escalatory trajectory of this conflict is anchored in the sole and firm belief in a military solution,” he added. The Russian Federation-Ukraine and Gaza conflicts are examples of “forever wars” where prolonged violence becomes seemingly endless and gets exacerbated by external military support and asymmetric warfare, he said. The safety of innocent civilians should be a non-negotiable principle, he said, stressing that the solution lies in a political and negotiated approach and calling on both parties to immediately cease hostilities and resume direct negotiations.
The representative of Switzerland called on the Russian Federation to immediately de-escalate the situation, cease all hostilities and withdraw its troops from Ukrainian territory. Noting that amid the ongoing devastating attacks on Ukraine, the number of civilian casualties continues to rise, she stressed that civilian populations and infrastructure must be protected. Regarding arms transfers, she reaffirmed the need to comply with the relevant multilateral conventions and instruments, including Council resolutions. “We must have the courage to build peace,” she stated, drawing attention to the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, to be held in Switzerland from 15 to 16 June. Nearly 100 delegations will attend, she said, expressing hope that “this meeting will inspire a framework for a future peace process and enable us to move forward on the path to ending this terrible war”.
The representative of China said that the constant flow of weapons and ammunition into the battlefield will only exacerbate the crisis, result in more casualties and increase the risk of proliferation. “Complex issues can never find simple solutions,” he stressed, adding that “weapons might help end the war, but will not bring about lasting peace”. Recalling his country’s consistent position on “the question of Ukraine”, he said that China will push for peace negotiations and play a constructive role towards political settlement of the crisis. He also said that the representative of the United States again “spread false remarks” that China has supported the rebuilding of the Russian Federation’s defence industry. Beijing has not provided lethal weapons to any party to the conflict and has always strictly controlled dual-use items, he underscored, urging the United States to “stop using the Ukraine issue as an excuse to smear China and to impose unilateral sanctions and unreasonable suppression on Chinese companies”.
The representative of Slovenia, reaffirming his country’s support for Ukraine, said such support is in line with the applicable international and national legal frameworks. In contrast, there is ample evidence to suggest that the Russian Federation is procuring arms illegally from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Responding to the statements about the rising profits of Western defence companies, he said: “Aid to Ukraine is not a matter of money, economy or profits; it is a matter of principle and solidarity.” Rejecting the Russian Federation’s double standards, he said that country has shifted into a full wartime economy and is spending an estimated 30 per cent of its budget for attacks on a neighbouring country. While “hearing the Russian delegation speak about prospects for peace fills us with hope”, he stressed that lasting peace starts and ends with the respect of international law.
The representative of Japan emphasized that “it is Russia that initiated this war of aggression in violation of the UN Charter [and] will never be able to justify any of its illegal actions against Ukraine, nor undermine [its] legitimate right to defend itself”. For the majority of the international community, providing continuous, legitimate support for Ukraine is natural as it fights for its survival, sovereignty and territorial integrity. “There can be no just and lasting peace without Ukraine,” she stated, noting that pursuing “neutrality” between the aggressor and the victim — while treating both as if they are on an equal footing - should not be the goal as such an approach only benefits the aggressor.
The representative of Ecuador said that his country has “rallied behind the widely resounding international clarion call” for the parties to refrain from using explosive weapons in populated areas. Further, he urged them to move the fighting away from urban areas and nuclear facilities. Stating that self-defence “is enshrined in — and must be pursued within — the provisions of the Charter”, he emphasized that munitions transfers must be conducted in accordance with international law. Additionally, States’ import, transit, production and export must avoid the diversion of, illicit trade in and misuse of weapons. He also recalled that his country has historically rejected any violation of States’ sovereignty or territorial integrity and has always favoured the peaceful resolution of disputes. “This is a principle from which we cannot stray — in this or in other conflicts,” he stressed, urging immediate constructive dialogue between the parties to cease hostilities and restore peace.
The representative of the Republic of Korea, Council President for June, speaking in his national capacity, highlighted the sharp increase in the civilian death toll in Ukraine last month. Reaffirming that country’s inherent right to self-defence, he said it is crystal clear to the international community who the aggressor and defender are. The ongoing arms trade between the Russian Federation and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea constitutes a blatant violation of multiple Security Council resolution, he said, adding that today’s meeting should have focused on this “illegal military cooperation”. Also pointing to the forthcoming high-level meeting between both countries, he said the Russian Federation is derelict in its duties as a permanent member of the Council. Recalling the Ukraine recovery conference in Germany earlier this week, he pointed to the global support for the Summit on Peace in Ukraine in Switzerland.
The representative of Ukraine stated that “Russia continues to kill Ukrainians”. Just two days ago, nine civilians were killed in the city of Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk region, after a Russian Iskander-M ballistic missile hit a multi-story residential building. This attack also wounded 29 people, including five children. Earlier that day, Moscow attempted to kill residents of Kyiv by targeting the Ukrainian capital with six missiles, both cruise and ballistic, and 24 Shahed drones. While the Ukrainian Air Defence Forces intercepted all drones and five missiles, one missile hit a civilian infrastructure facility. Last night, another barrage of 14 missiles and 17 drones was launched on Ukrainian cities. He also stressed that more than 900 soldiers of the Azov Brigade are held in Russian Federation prisons. As reported by the OHCHR, some of them were beaten to death and others given long-term or life sentences simply for being members of the Azov Brigade, he said, urging Moscow to stop its torture, grant unimpeded access to them by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and include them in prisoner exchanges.
“While spreading the nonsense that the possession of arms by the defending party makes peace elusive, Russia itself continues to receive weapons from rogue States like Iran and North Korea,” he further underscored. Pyongyang has already reportedly sent to that country 10,000 shipping containers that could hold nearly 5 million artillery shells. Moreover, Moscow resorts to press-ganging foreign nationals into its occupation forces in Ukraine by threatening those already in the country. Its authorities have also been threatening not to extend visas of African students and workers unless they agree to join the military. Foreigners with work visas are detained and forced to choose between deportation or army enlistment. Moscow is also luring foreign nationals with promises of lucrative work: among the most recent cases is the escape of 22 Sri Lankans who managed to desert from the Russian Federation’s army and return home — one of them told reporters that he had received a job offer to be a driver in the country. “Upon arrival, however, he was handed an assault rifle and sent to the frontline,” he added.
Spotlighting the inaugural Summit on Peace in Ukraine, which will start in Switzerland tomorrow, he said that “the powerful voice of the nations united around the principles of the UN Charter at the Summit will be decisive for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine.” This voice is critical to make Moscow accept these principles, abandon ultimatums and move to good-faith negotiations to end the war rather than continue “a propaganda campaign amplified by horrific daily missile strikes on Ukraine”, he stressed.