Ukraine: Statement by Jean-No ël Barrot at the UN Security Council

STATEMENT BY JEAN-NO=C3=8BL BARROT
MINISTER FOR EUROPE AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC

AT THE SECURITY COUNCIL

New York, 29 April 2025

Ministers,
Ladies and gentlemen,

My European partners and I would have preferred not to have to convene  =

this Security Council meeting on Ukraine, but Russia=E2=80=99s high-inte=
nsity war  =

of aggression continues to ravage Ukraine, as reiterated by the  =

Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs and the Assistant  =

Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, with drastic humanitarian  =

consequences in violation of international law and in violation of the  =

Charter of the United Nations: our Charter.

How did this happen?

It started with the aspirations of the Ukrainian people to freedom and  =

democracy, which Russia sought to repress in the 2014 Maidan Uprising.

Ten years ago, a fragile ceasefire was agreed in Minsk.

Three years ago, Russia launched its large-scale invasion of Ukraine, a =
 =

unilateral, brutal, unjustifiable war of aggression that must end now. A=
  =

war that was not a defensive war, and that was not inevitable. A war tha=
t  =

was not justified, and continues to be unjustifiable. It is quite simply=
  =

the expression of an overt revisionist plan.

Ladies and gentlemen,

On 24 February this year, the Security Council adopted an American  =

resolution, Resolution 2774, and I wish to cite it as a reminder: =E2=80=
=9Cthe  =

Security Council [...] implores a swift end to the conflict=E2=80=9D.

What has Ukraine done since 24 February?

On 9 March, Ukraine accepted the principle of a total and unconditional =
 =

ceasefire, in accordance with Resolution 2774, showing its good faith an=
d  =

sincere desire to move towards peace.

And what has Russia done since 24 February and the adoption of Resolutio=
n  =

2774?

It has continued its war crimes and crimes against humanity by striking =
 =

infrastructures and targeting civilians, women and children, and  =

humanitarian workers.

While it is totally violating international law, Russia would have us  =

believe that is in within its right and that it may lay claim to the  =

Ukrainian territories in the name of the principle of self-determination=
.  =

But it is a diversion; it is false. What is true is that Russia is  =

violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, Russia i=
s  =

attacking its neighbour, and in this war of aggression, it is violating =
 =

international law and international humanitarian law. Everyone can see  =

that, and everyone knows it.

And today, the only obstacle now to the ceasefire, the only obstacle to =
 =

the implementation of Resolution 2774 adopted by the Council on 24  =

February, is Vladimir Putin.

So why oppose the implementation of this resolution in this way?

Vladimir Putin=E2=80=99s Russia most likely wants to push Ukraine to sur=
render.  =

But France, like many other members of this Council, is opposed to this,=
  =

and will continue to oppose it.

First, because it is a security challenge for Europe and France, which  =

Russia seeks to destabilize.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, France has already been targeted.

Since the beginning of the conflict, our country, a supporter of Ukraine=
,  =

has been targeted by Russian cyber attacks originating in the Russian  =

military intelligence services, GRU, carried out by threat actor APT28. =
 =

They targeted a dozen French entities including public services,  =

enterprises, and sports organizations involved in the Paris 2024 Olympic=
  =

and Paralympic Games. We condemn these cyber attacks in the strongest  =

terms. They are unworthy of a permanent member of the Security Council a=
nd  =

contrary to the framework set by the United Nations. They must cease  =

immediately.

But if France, like other members of this Council, is opposed to any for=
m  =

of surrender by Ukraine, it is not only for the sake of Europe=E2=80=99s=
 and  =

France=E2=80=99s security, it is also for the sake of global peace and s=
ecurity.  =

Because such an outcome in this war would enshrine the concept of =E2=80=
=9Cmight  =

is right=E2=80=9D, and inevitably lead the world into a frenetic arms ra=
ce, and  =

most certainly proliferation.

I believe that quite simply we must return to some of the elementary  =

principles of our Charter, which I would once again like to cite to  =

refresh the memories of all members of this Council. In Chapter I, Artic=
le  =

2, Paragraph 4, it states that: =E2=80=9CStates shall refrain in their  =

international relations from the threat or use of force against the  =

territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any =
 =

other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations (...)=E2=
=80=9D.

So let=E2=80=99s get back to simple principles: aggressors must not be r=
ewarded at  =

the victim=E2=80=99s expense; borders are intangible; and States, no mat=
ter which,  =

are sovereign.

I therefore call on President Putin to say to him:
Cease fire!
Cease fire!
Cease fire!

That is when peace will become possible again.

A just and true peace.

A peace that complies with the Charter of the United Nations and  =

international law.

A peace that respects the sovereignty, territorial integrity and securit=
y  =

of Ukraine.

We can succeed.

That is why, while commending the mediation efforts undertaken by the  =

United States of America and at the highest level, France wants this  =

Council to unanimously demand a total, immediate and unconditional  =

ceasefire, and by that I mean that weapons be laid down.

Thank you.

https://onu.delegfrance.org/ukraine-statement-by-jean-noel-barrot-at-the=
-un-security-council