ウクライナ情勢に関する安保理会合における山﨑大使ステートメント

 
I thank the USG DiCarlo for her comprehensive briefing.

At the outset, I’d like to express our condemnation on the recent missile attacks on Odessa, and express our condolences for the victims who were victimized. We reiterate that attacks on civilians are unlawful and totally unacceptable.

Whenever we attend a Council meeting regarding Ukraine, we do so reaffirming our solid commitment to international peace and security in the spirit of the UN Charter, which has been challenged by actions that gravely undermine justice and the rule of law, the very foundation of the international community.  

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has brought us together with even stronger resolve. We must acknowledge that this situation threatens not only the affected regions but also international peace and security under which we all live.

We continue to urge Russia to immediately and unconditionally withdraw from the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine.

Russia’s  unilaterally holding what it calls "Presidential elections" in the occupied territories of Ukraine infringes upon sovreingnty and territorial integrity of a sovereign state and is based on the clear violation of international law. Such acts following Russia’s illegal annexation are totally unacceptable and shall never be recognized.    

We will never recognize so-called “elections”, past and future, held by Russia in the territories of Ukraine, nor their results.

Colleagues, imagine this situation as if it happened to you: a neighboring country started a war of aggression against your country, and occupied part of your country. Within this occupied territory, the citizens of your own country were forced to  participate in the “Presidential election” of the aggressor. This would be clearly unthinkable and unacceptable to any UN Member State.

Let me be clear - as affirmed in the relevant GA resolution adopted by an overwhelming majority of the Member States, Russia’s attempted illegal annexation of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhya regions into the territory of the Russian Federation by force clearly breaches international law including the UN Charter.

These actions in the areas that have been forcibly put under Russia’s control are nothing but attempts to acquire territory by force and have no validity. They cannot form the basis for any alteration of the status of these regions of Ukraine.

Let me recall the statement by the UN Secretary-General in September 2022. I quote, “Any decision to proceed with the annexation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhya regions of Ukraine would have no legal value and deserves to be condemned." Unquote. This could not be clearer.

In conclusion, as I said at the beginning, our commitment to upholding the UN Charter, and to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, is unwavering.

The overwhelming majority shares these principles and is united to realize a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

History will show that futile attempts by Russia to establish a sense of normalcy or legitimacy through these activities are doomed to fail.