On February 24, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mariana Betsa spoke at the UN Security Council ministerial meeting dedicated to the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The Deputy Minister thanked all partners for their broad support of the Ukrainian UNGA resolution demanding the speedy achievement of a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in accordance with the UN Charter.

Mariana Betsa emphasized: “For three years, Ukraine has been resisting the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation. This war is existential. It is not only about Ukraine, not only about Europe, and not only about the region – it is about our global architecture, the rules-based order and the entire democratic world”.

The Ukrainian diplomat noted that the Russian Federation is increasing its arms production and continues to strike Ukrainian positions at the front and residential areas with thousands of guided bombs, involving Iran and the DPRK. In fact, the conflict is being internationalized.

The Deputy Minister emphasized the need to establish a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine with clear and effective security guarantees and stressed two principles: nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, and nothing about Europe without Europe.

“NATO and EU are indispensable elements of regional security and Ukraine is eager to be a part of them. Not only as a security recipient, but as a security provider. And the Security Council, which bears the primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, must live up to its mandate”, the Deputy Minister said.

Mariana Betsa also emphasized that those responsible for the crime of aggression, war crimes and crimes against humanity must be brought to justice, in particular by establishing a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Russian aggression.

The Deputy Minister emphasized that it is impossible to stop the aggressor by appeasement and noted that Russia must fulfill the demands of the international community and withdraw its troops from the territory of Ukraine and be held accountable.

For reference: the full text of the speech by Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mariana Betsa is available at the following link https://un.mfa.gov.ua/news/statement-he-mariana-betsa-deputy-minister-foreign-affairs-ukraine-security-council-ministerial-meeting-24-february-2025.