Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mariana Betsa met with Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres during her visit to New York on April 29-30 to participate in the UN Security Council meeting on “Maintenance of Peace and Security in Ukraine”.
Mariana Betsa expressed her gratitude for the UN's activities and assistance in the humanitarian sphere in Ukraine in the context of the full-scale war of the Russian Federation against our country.
The Deputy Minister emphasized the importance of ensuring Russia's accountability for its aggression, crimes against humanity and war crimes, including those against children.
For his part, the Secretary-General reaffirmed the UN's commitment to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, an integral part of which is respect for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, in accordance with the UN Charter and other fundamental norms of international law.
During Mariana Betsa's meeting with Lord Collins of Highbury, Deputy Leader of the House of Lords and the Prime Minister's Special Representative for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, the interlocutors discussed the ongoing Russian aggression, as well as peace initiatives and approaches to a settlement. The British high representative reaffirmed the UK's unwavering support for Ukraine in countering Russian aggression and on the path to a just peace.
Mariana Betsa also met with UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Kitty van der Heijden. The Ukrainian diplomat highly appreciated the support of the Organization, which remains vital in the context of the ongoing Russian aggression. Mariana Betsa emphasized that close cooperation between the Government of Ukraine and UNICEF is crucial to protect the rights of every Ukrainian child, including those who have been forcibly displaced to Russia. The Deputy Minister stressed that Ukraine, with the help of its partners, will do everything to ensure that every Ukrainian child is safe and returns home, and that Russia and its war criminals are held to account.
During the meeting with UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Europe and the CIS Ivana Živković, the parties discussed cooperation between the Government of Ukraine and UNDP in assisting Ukraine, the implementation of relevant projects, and ways to ensure further financial support by donors.
As part of the visit, Deputy Minister Mariana Betsa and Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Iryna Mudra held a joint briefing for delegations of the UN member states on the topic of accountability. The discussion focused on the results of the thorough work of Ukraine and its partners to ensure accountability for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, the functioning of the Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, and the status of negotiations on the launch of the Commission for Review of Applications for Compensation.