Remarks at an emergency special session of the UN General Assembly ahead of the vote on a resolution to achieve peace in Ukraine
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield
US Representative to the United Nations
New-York, New-York
February 22, 2023
AS DELIVERED
Thank you Mr President. Many thanks to the Secretary General.
Colleagues, today we are gathered to discuss an important, historic resolution – a resolution that will promote diplomacy, dialogue and a lasting peace in Ukraine. The timing of this moment is of course intentional. A year ago, Russia launched its illegal, unprovoked, all-out invasion of Ukraine.
I remember that day vividly as I know you all do too. That evening I entered the United Nations Security Council for an emergency meeting called by the United States because we believed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was imminent. At this point, alarm bells had been ringing for weeks.
I had informed the Council unequivocally about the troop surge on the border and what we felt was important. Minister Blinken had also come to the Security Council and set out in detail what we thought was about to happen.
A few days before the invasion, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister asked us to “stop the hysteria.” On the night of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s representative on the Security Council said that “the occupation of Ukraine is not in our plan.” All Russia did was deny, deny, deny – as we heard again today from Russian PR.
On that cold February night, a year ago today, I asked Russia to stop. To return to its limits. To send his troops, tanks and planes back to their barracks and hangars. Send diplomats back to the negotiating table. But it was too late. At that very moment, I joined so many others in the Security Council and around the world in pleading for peace. President Putin has chosen war. This was an illegal and unprovoked attack on Ukraine. But it was also an attack on the United Nations. It hit the heart of the UN Charter.
We all know what happened next and what’s still happening now. The bombing of kindergartens and hospitals. The slaughter of innocent civilians. The worst refugee crisis in Europe since World War II. An unprecedented hunger crisis across the world. Threats to nuclear and energy security. Families forcibly separated, Ukrainian children relocated to Russia, mass suffering. crimes against humanity.
Colleagues, this vote is a moment to remember why we are here. Of course I can’t speak for everyone. I can only speak for myself.
When I was sworn in for this role, it was exactly a year to the day that Russia invaded Ukraine in full force. At the time, I had no idea what an existential threat the UN Charter would face. But I knew what President Biden and the American people were sending me here to do. To represent my country in the world, yes. But also to uphold the UN Charter. To engage in dialogue and diplomacy. And to lead us to a more peaceful, prosperous planet. And that’s why I’m here today.
And no matter what else you were sent here to do, I know we all have the same goals. To represent our countries. Stand up for diplomacy. And push for peace. This vote is an opportunity to do just that.
We have before us a resolution calling on the nations of the world to support diplomatic efforts to bring about a comprehensive and lasting peace in Ukraine. A peace consistent with the UN Charter. In line with its fundamental principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and self-defence.
Colleagues, this vote will go down in history. On the one-year anniversary of this conflict, we will see where the nations of the world stand on the issue of peace in Ukraine.
Earlier this week, President Biden visited Ukraine. And he made it clear where the United States stands. He stood side by side with President Zelenskyy to remind the world that a year later, Kiev is still standing. Ukraine still stands. And America still stands with Ukraine.
I was also in Ukraine at the end of last year. And while I learned a lot from my meetings and discussions, the strongest lessons I took away were on the faces of the Ukrainian people. I saw determination in President Zelenskyy. I saw a leader determined to defend his people and his country while it lasted. I saw sorrow in the faces of refugees and victims. Deep mourning. Unimaginable pain was engraved on their faces. It’s hard to overstate how much unnecessary anguish and pain President Putin has caused.
But I found hope in the faces of the Ukrainian children. I met a 10-year-old girl named Milena who lived in a facility where displaced families gathered to prepare for the cold winter. A facility once hit by Russian missiles. And I asked Milena what she wanted to do after the war. And she smiled. She just told me she wanted to go back to school and see her best friend again. Her face beamed with hope. I will never forget your shining eyes.
Colleagues, we should never give up hope. We should never give up the potential for diplomacy, the power of dialogue, or the urgency of peace. We now have the opportunity to vote for that peace. And vote again to uphold the UN Charter. A UN charter that stands for sovereignty and territorial integrity. A UN charter that stands for the inherent right to self-defense. And a UN charter aimed at maintaining international peace and security and ending the scourge of war.
So, colleagues, I urge you to vote against – against all hostile amendments designed to undermine the UN Charter and ignore the truth of this war. Instead, I urge you to vote ‘yes’ for this resolution as it stands. Promote diplomacy and dialogue – yes, diplomacy and dialogue. Promoting cooperation on threats to global food security, energy, finance, environment, nuclear safety and security. To defend the UN Charter, we all pledged to protect. And to support a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
Thanks very much.
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