On 27 November, at an emergency meeting convened at Ukraine's request, the UN Security Council considered Russia's use of an intermediate-range ballistic missile to shell Dnipro on 21 November, as well as the security threats posed by the involvement of DPRK troops to assist Russia in its aggression against Ukraine.
The discussion demonstrated the principled position of the overwhelming majority of the Security Council members, who qualified such actions as new elements of Russia's expansion of the war.
It is noteworthy that Assistant UN Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča, who briefed the meeting, actually solidarised with these assessments, stating that ‘the use of ballistic missiles and related threats is a very dangerous escalation’.
The meeting paid considerable attention to Russia's recent massive strikes, in particular against Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
A number of countries condemned Russia's irresponsible threats with nuclear weapons, particularly in the context of the Russian dictator's recent approval of an updated nuclear doctrine.
Ukraine's partner states strongly condemned the involvement of DPRK troops in hostilities against Ukraine on the side of the Russian Federation as an ‘internationalisation’ of the conflict, which is a threat to regional and international peace and security.
It was expected that the signals from the Putin regime's representative were at odds with the responsible approach of the majority of the meeting's participants. Russia has once again confirmed that it uses its presence in the Security Council solely to spread fakes, counter-accusations and threats, not only against Ukraine but also against other UN member states.
In this regard, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the UN Sergiy Kyslytsia called for not succumbing to intimidation and nuclear blackmail by Russia, as weakness and the desire to appease the aggressor provoke Putin to raise the degree of tension. He stressed that the response to Russia's threats and expansion of the war should be tougher sanctions and increased military assistance to Ukraine.
Ukraine also made it clear at the meeting that attempts to present strikes on military targets as a ‘step towards escalation’ show either a lack of understanding of the nature of war or an attempt to play along with the aggressor. Moreover, they contradict the letter and spirit of Article 51 of the UN Charter, which regulates the inherent right of our state to self-defence. This approach was supported by Ukraine's allies - members of the UN Security Council.
Ukraine will continue to use the UN instruments, in particular the Security Council, as part of its efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace based on the principles of the UN Charter, as envisaged by the Peace Formula and UNGA resolution ES-11/6 of 23 February 2023.