Kuleba submits draft resolution on principles of peace in Ukraine to UN

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said this during a speech at a special session of the UN General Assembly in New York, presenting a draft resolution “Principles underlying a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine,” Ukrinform reports.

“The principle of territorial integrity must not be violated... The world will sink into chaos if we allow borders to be changed by force, hiding behind political expediency or sympathy for the aggressors. With the support of the world, Ukraine can restore its territorial integrity and respect for the UN Charter. And it will. This will deprive Russia and other aggressors of the desire to attack other countries,” Kuleba said.

The Minister recalled that exactly one year ago he was at the UN General Assembly a few hours before the start of Russia's large-scale invasion and called on nations to unite to prevent war.

“A year later, despite everything, Ukraine is effectively defending itself against a much stronger enemy, and I appeal to you: this is a crucial moment to demonstrate support, unity and solidarity. This is the moment to prove that you support the UN Charter. In words and deeds,” Kuleba said.

Addressing the audience, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister emphasized that some of those present still wanted to “be friends with both Ukraine and Russia” so that “everything would end quickly with any result.”

“The problem is that there are no two equal sides in this war. There is an aggressor and a victim. I understand that there are still some countries that, for various reasons, do not want to take the side of Ukraine. But this is not the point. It is about taking the side of the UN Charter, taking the side of international law. It is about standing by the resolutions of the UN General Assembly. These are our common rules. And we all have an interest in upholding them. With the exception of the Russian Federation, which believes that the rules do not apply to it and exist only to break them,” Kuleba said.

The minister warned against achieving peace that would not be based on the victory over evil, but on the fact that the force of good had stopped fighting.

On February 22, the General Assembly began an emergency special session to consider the resolution "Principles of the UN Charter underpinning a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine." The debate will last for two days, until February 23, and will end with a vote on the resolution, which emphasizes the need to restore peace that ensures Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

On February 24, the UN Security Council will hold an open debate with the participation of foreign ministers to mark the anniversary of the beginning of Russia's large-scale war.

• The day before, Kuleba received the thesis of China's 'peace plan': he promised to respond after studying the full text of the document.