Today, the world commemorates and pays tribute to all victims of terrorism. Ukraine stands in solidarity with each and every one of those attacked, injured, traumatized, lost their lives or in any way affected by those horrific crimes.

We urge that no lives fallen to the acts of terrorism shall be forgotten. The dire consequences of terrorist activities have to be remembered as the lessons of the tragic past with the ultimate goal of preventing such acts from occurring again.

Unfortunately, some countries have integrated terrorism into their state policy that consequently has already led to brutal violations of international law.

Attempt of the annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, the ongoing armed conflict in the Donbas region and related occupation of Ukrainian sovereign territory have already caused irreparable damage to the Ukrainian people, including thousands of civilian casualties and nearly two million internally displaced persons. 

In remembrance of all the victims of terrorism, Ukraine calls upon the whole international community to defend international law, firmly and uncompromisingly, and to ensure inevitable responsibility for each and every violation of fundamental norms and principles.

We believe that countries which violate such rules and principles of international law should also be brought to accountability. In this regard, we would like to recall the case of Ukraine against the Russian Federation on the application of the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorism Financing (ICSFT). 

With Russian support, illegal armed groups attacked MH17, taking nearly 300 innocent lives; unleashed deadly barrages of rocket fire on Ukrainian cities, including the assaults on a checkpoint near Volnovakha and residential neighbourhoods in Kramatorsk, Mariupol, and Avdiivka; and planted bombs that have ripped through patriotic marches, popular nightclubs, and other peaceful locations.

On 8 November 2019, the International Court of Justice issued a Judgment on Preliminary Objections, decisively rejecting Russia’s jurisdictional and admissibility objections and upholding its jurisdiction to hear Ukraine’s claims under ICSFT. 

Now, Russia is called upon to respond on the merits to Ukraine’s claims ─ and the voluminous evidence substantiating them ─ that Russia has violated its international obligations under the ICSFT.

We expect that our partners will be closely engaged in multilateral efforts aimed at combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including in the uncontrolled areas of Ukraine.

We strongly advocate bringing to justice all perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of reprehensible acts of terrorism, including states supporting terrorist activities. 

It is our common responsibility towards all victims of terrorism and we must not let them be forgotten.